It took more than three thousand years and an innumerable list of adversities for, thanks to the efforts of the NGO, Aussie Ark, On the Australian mainland, a milestone in animal conservation occurs: the Tasmanian devil, the carnivorous marsupial that helps preserve Australian ecosystems, has been reborn in the place from which he fled many years ago due to the serious threat of extinction that weighed on the species.
The Tasmanian devil, which once inhabited mainland Australia, disappeared from the territory due to a combination of adverse factors. The arrival of non-native wild dogs, the dingo, became a direct competitor for food and territory, bringing the population of these animals to the brink of extinction. The marsupial’s situation was further aggravated by the spread of Devil Facial Tumor Disease, a contagious cancer that wiped out approximately 90% of the population. In addition, hunting by humans eventually eradicated the few that remained.
However, these animals did manage to survive on the island of Tasmania, a remote island state located off the southern coast of Australia, known for its vast and rugged natural areas that were not reached by dingoes and that became his natural refuge. Despite having managed to survive all the challenges, the future of the animal remained uncertain until, of course, conservation initiatives began to bear fruit.
A specimen of Tasmanian devilGetty Images
In 2023, organizations Aussie Ark y ReWild Ark 11 Tasmanian devils released into the Australian wilderness. A reintroduction that not only seeks to recover a nearly extinct species but also offers significant benefits for the ecosystem. These marsupials, being large predators, play a key role in the control of invasive species, such as wild cats and foxes, which threaten endemic species.
The Australian NGO’s plan does not stop here. As they have announced, Their plans call for the release of two more groups of 20 Tasmanian devils over the next two years. A process that will be closely monitored thanks to locator collars and a series of camera traps that will allow researchers to observe how they adapt to the new environment, as well as their behavior, diet and reproductive patterns.
