Home / News / Insurance Population boosted by Taronga’s $1 million breeding centre

Insurance Population boosted by Taronga’s $1 million breeding centre

Published: 06/07/2010

The Save the Tasmanian Devil Program's Insurance Population on the Australian mainland has been boosted by the June 2010 opening of the $1 million Taronga Zoo breeding centre and education facility. 

The Tasmanian Devil Breeding Centre, which is part of the Wild Australia Display at Sydney's Taronga Zoo, incorporates an exhibit as well as four off-display breeding areas.

Other features of the 200 square-metre facility include: a research and conservation classroom; a presentation of how devils have adapted to life in human-affected rural areas; observation windows that reveal devils' sleeping dens, as well as their natural Tasmanian habitat; and, a call to action for visitors to find out how they can help the endangered species.

Taronga Zoo's Director and CEO, Cameron Kerr, said the Breeding Centre lets visitors see conservation action, with the outdoor ‘classroom' showing the difficulties the devil faces in the wild.

"The state of the art exhibit will help visitors learn more about how the cancer is threatening the survival of this species," he said.

"The new Centre houses four breeding areas and keepers are currently introducing devils for the next breeding cycle."

The Save the Tasmanian Devil Program has placed Insurance Population devils with 19 Zoo Association members on mainland Australia. The population was established in 2005, far away from the Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD).

Photo courtesy of Taronga Zoo.