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New chance at life for road trauma devil

Published: 15/11/2011

A young devil found injured on the side of the road has been nursed back to health and is now an integral part of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program’s insurance population.

The juvenile male was found lying on the side of Oyster Cove Road in Tasmania’s south next to the corpse of another devil. Both had been hit by a vehicle.

Save the Tasmanian Devil Program manager Andrew Sharman said the young devil, named Bailey, had a broken jaw but was now doing well.

"It is very heartening that this young animal has responded to care and treatment," Mr Sharman said. "And it is a major bonus that he is free of the deadly Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease."

Eighteen-month-old Bailey (pictured on right) is now a resident at the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment's animal management facility at Taroona and it is anticipated he will become part of an insurance devil population interstate.

Mr Sharman said it was unfortunate that healthy young devils were at risk on the roads as well as from Devil Facial Tumour Disease.

He said it was imperative that drivers slow down particularly at dawn and dusk when native animals were active and when devils were prowling for food.

"Carrion is a godsend to a hungry young devil inexperienced at finding food but the sad part is that a lot of this easy food is on the road," he said.

"It is a sad irony that newly-weaned devils gravitate to the roads for an easy meal of roadkill and run the risk of being hit themselves."

Mr Sharman urged the public to report injured devils but stressed that injured or road-killed wildlife should not be handled and road safety precautions should be taken.

Roadkill report forms are available from outlets around Tasmania, including Service Tasmania and visitor information centres. A list of outlets and more information is available at www.tassiedevil.com.au. Alternatively, reports and photos of road-injured or road-killed wildlife can be sent by SMS to 0427 733 511.