About the appeal
The Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal’s primary goal is to raise funds to support the urgent research and conservation needs of the endangered Tasmanian devil.
Coordinated by the University of Tasmania, each year the Appeal delivers grants and scholarships to researchers working towards informing management activities by addressing challenges such as habitat loss, roadkill, and of course the devastating effects of Devil Facial Tumour Diseases (DFTD).
Devil numbers were at their highest in 1996. Today, they have dropped to just 17,000. Researchers at the University of Tasmania predict that numbers will plateau at 12,000 within the next decade. This is a significant decrease from 53,000 only 25 years ago.
The Appeal is committed to supporting the development of a vaccine that has the potential to offer a solution to DFTD and allow numbers of wild devils to recover. This research is being led by the University’s Menzies Institute for Medical Research.
We have an ambitious plan to distribute the vaccine using an automated dispenser to deliver the edible food baits. The dispenser can be used in remote areas which is essential given so much of Tasmania is wilderness.
100% of the funds raised by the Appeal go to research and management activities that have been prioritised as important to the long-term solution to devil facial tumour disease. This includes tracking and trapping devils to monitor wild populations and follow the progression of DFTD across Tasmania. This is of particular importance now a second form of transmissible cancer, DFT2, has been discovered to be spreading north of the d’Entrecasteaux peninsula south of Hobart.
Public support for this research is critical as it provides research teams with the ability to apply for further grants and ensure every donation received can be leveraged for additional funding.
Donations $2 and over are fully tax-deductible and GST exempt in Australia.
How can I help?
- Make a donation
Donate online, by phone or mail, you could even request a donation box. Gifts $2 and over are tax -deductible in Australia. - Become a corporate partner
Aligning with the Appeal puts you and your company front and centre in saving this iconic animal. Contact us at devil.appeal@utas.edu.au to discuss the possibilities. - Run a fundraiser
Organising your own fundraiser is a fantastic way to unite friends, co-workers, a team or other group. It could be as simple as a sponsored walk, hosting a morning tea or having a garage sale. Contact us at devil.appeal@utas.edu.au to see how we can assist.
Tasmanian devil stories
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