A feasibility study into the potential impacts of a broad-scale fencing project in north-western Tasmania will soon be prepared, the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program announced in August 2010.
A barrier fence could protect healthy populations on the Woolnorth farming property by breaking the disease transmission cycle. But Dr Samantha Fox, a wildlife biologist with the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, said the possible risks of building the structure still needed to be assessed.
"We need to make sure that we understand the effects of constructing the fence," Sam said, "as well as be aware of any actions that we need to take to mitigate those risks."
The feasibility study will consider factors such as the route of the fence, its design, and the eventual cost. Most importantly, it will assess the impact of the fence on other animals, the farming operations at Woolnorth, and the natural and heritage values of the landscape.
"We're looking at a big fence that will be expensive to build and expensive to maintain," Sam said, "but the devil population at Woolnorth is important enough to warrant it.
"Woolnorth is the healthiest and most abundant population of devils in Tasmania. From the data that we've collected, we believe there are around 550 devils on the property. So this fence would protect a large number of devils, as well as preserve their wild behaviours. We'd also be maintaining genetic diversity within the wild population.
"That's why we feel committed to not only pursue fencing as a management option, but a fencing project for that particular population."
Fencing for conservation has been used on the mainland in landscapes as diverse as the South Australian outback (the Roxby Downs Arid Recovery Project) and the grassy woodlands of the ACT (Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve). The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) in Western Australia has also used fencing extensively - most recently in strategies for the endangered woylie (or brush-tailed bettong).
effects of constructing the fence," Sam said, "as well as be aware of any actions that we need to take to mitigate those risks."
