To save the Tasmanian devil from possible extinction, our number one objective is to secure a population of healthy devils, away from disease, in zoos, wildlife parks and free range enclosures around Australia. We need to look after this population over the next 25-50 years, while continuing the fight to maintain devils in the wild.
We have successfully built a population of around 700 happy, healthy breeding devils. They are cared for in over 40 zoos and parks across Australia. A wild population of Tasmanian devils has also been established on Maria Island, a dedicated nature reserve. Healthy populations in protected peninsulas in Tasmania’s south have also been established.
Research into a possible vaccine continues, with trials in the wild now a reality. Find out more about Devil Vaccine Research.
All of these conservation projects will take millions of dollars: it costs around $7,000 to vaccinate, care and track the progress of devils participating in the vaccine trials. It can cost around $500 to house a devil for one month at a zoo.
You can help by making a tax deductible donation now to support:
- $2,000 immunises a devil
- $500 purchases a remote monitoring camera
- $100 clears and prepares one metre of fence enclosure
- $50 provides a health check for a devil
You can play your part in whatever way suits you best, knowing that every small contribution goes a long way towards helping to save this iconic Tasmanian animal.
100% of the funds raised by the Appeal go to the research and management activities that have been prioritised as important to the long-term solution to devil facial tumour disease and the aim to keep Tasmanian devils sustainable in the wild as well as to facilitate the educational and advocacy activities of the Appeal.
All donations over $2 are fully tax deductible and GST exempt in Australia.
Supporters of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal come from all walks of life. They are united by a vision to keep the Tasmanian devil a functioning species in the wild. Singers, songwriters, artists, large companies, small companies, motivated school -children, company sports teams, motorcycle clubs, biscuit makers, coffee producers and many others are donating their time, effort and money to this urgent cause.
We are extremely grateful to all of our donors, in particular the generous commitment shown by our Featured Supporters:
- AAT Kings
- A.H. Beard Tasmania
- Bayer Australia Limited
- Betta Milk Co-operative Society Pty Ltd
- Bluesand Foundation
- Business Events Tasmania
- Collins Debden
- Curious Traveller
- Emily's Wish Foundation
- Estate of the late Helen Burley
- Featherdale Wildlife Park
- Hobart City Council – The Taste of Tasmania
- Hobart International Airport
- Juicy Isle Pty Ltd
- Kelly Family Foundation
- Launceston Airport
- Nekon Pty Ltd
- Pennicott Foundation
- Pure Foods Eggs
- Refrigeration Consulting Services Pty Ltd
- RxSafety, Techcoat and RxDive
- Sirius Foundation Limited
- Success Tax Professionals
- Tasmanian Icon Wines
- The Sheehan-Birrell Foundation
- The Tall Foundation
- The TreadRight Foundation
- Tokyo Zoological Park Society
- Tourism Brochure Exchange
- Tourism Tasmania
- Ulysses Club Inc – Launceston
- Wildcare Inc (caring for wild places, wildlife and cultural)
The Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal would like to recognise the significant support schools, foundations, sporting groups and the business community have given to the Appeal over the past years. Whether the support be a Black and White day event, morning tea or indeed a major commitment from your business or Foundation, we are incredibly grateful. Every donation we receive allows us to fund critical research and conservation projects for the Tasmanian devil. All donations over $200 are acknowledged.
The Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal would like to thank sincerely the nearly 200 donors who gave to the Appeal in 2016. By aligning yourself with the Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal, you are actively putting up your hand to help us to save an iconic species from extinction. All donations over $200 are acknowledged.
Over the last few years, the Appeal has supported a range of key research and management projects. Without significant on-going support, this would not be possible. We thank everyone who has been a past supporter and encourage you to consider joining our journey to Save the Tasmanian devil once more:
The Appeal's Ambassadors are our champions in the community, taking our message with them on their travels. They support us with publicity, profiles and fundraising events wherever they can, each offering their own unique take on getting the news out about the plight of the Tasmanian devil.
In late 2016 we were thrilled Tasmanian-born actress Bonnie Sveen joined Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal as Ambassador.
Bonnie is a Logie winner and former Home and Away star, also appearing in Channel Seven drama The Secret Daughter alongside Jessica Mauboy.
She has an affinity with nature and wanted to help her home state's iconic and endangered marsupial. Bonnie said "hearing that this mysterious, fatal disease could mean the end of our precious Tassie Devil was heartbreaking to me."
"More than just a mascot to our state or an internationally famous cartoon character, the devil is a vital member of our unique biodiversity ... as a Tasmanian, I feel a strong responsibility to do what I can to preserve the remaining healthy devils in the wild and support research into helping fight the disease ... It was a no-brainer to want to be involved."
Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal manager Rebecca Cuthill is delighted to have been approached by Bonnie and looks forward to her involvement. "To have someone high-profile and passionate about wildlife like Bonnie take up the fight on behalf of the Devil will provide a welcome boost to national and international awareness of its plight ... we are grateful to Bonnie for her time and efforts in understanding our work and providing support to the fund and awareness-raising where she can."
To find out more about what Bonnie's been doing in her role as Ambassador visit our Appeal News page, Like our Facebook page, or follow us on Instagram.
Jon was a passionate advocate for the Tasmanian devil for many years, describing it as the "original rock and roll animal". In 2009, Jon arranged a series of fundraising concerts, Devil Rock, and since this time his relationship with the Appeal has continued. He was a proud supporter and Ambassador for the Appeal raising thousands of dollars to help save our Tassie devil.
It was with deep sadness we received the news of his passing in March 2016.
Starred in a Tourism Australia video, receiving over 560,000 hits on Youtube. Performed a private show for Oprah Winfrey’s girlfriend, Gayle King, and Oprah’s famous “Road Trippers”.
Supported artists of the calibre of Archie Roach, John Farnham and Guy Sebastian. Wowed audiences in two shows with the prestigious Black Arm Band - upstaging Paul Kelly in a duet during the Melbourne International Arts Festival – and performed in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York as part of G’Day USA.
The wish list or daydreams of an aspiring Australian singer? Maybe, they’re certainly big enough dreams. But, they’re also just some of the highlights of Dewayne’s career over the last two years.
And he’s done all of this without putting out an album, without any of the promotion and hype accompanying a debut release.
It’s not surprising, though. From his childhood appearances within his own Tasmanian Aboriginal community, through many festival stages around Australia and across the Pacific, his audition for Australian Idol, one thing has become very clear – Dewayne’s a very special performer.
But, it’s not just his amazing voice. He’s also one of those rare performers with a gift, a presence. Untutored in stagecraft, Dewayne tells his story, sings to a crowded room, and most individuals listening feel he’s singing just for them. He can’t explain it and he’s not consciously trying to use it; it’s just there, it’s just him.
He’s an Aboriginal man, descended from both the Aboriginal community of Cape Barren Island and the Gunai/Kurnai people of Victoria, but his music can’t be neatly pigeonholed as Indigenous. It’s been influenced by his heritage, then shaped by his tough early years and his love of so many musical styles and great singers.
Dewayne’s just twenty-three, barely begun his journey and his debut album won’t be available for another few months. Yet, he’s already gaining recognition as someone special – he’s just been appointed, along with Jon English, to the role of ambassador for the government’s official Save the Tasmanian Devil Fund.
You’d be safe in assuming Dewayne will be part of your life for years to come and that his gift will take him to the world in the not-too-distant future. There’s just so much more to come.
The Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal (the Appeal) is an initiative of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program (the Program) coordinated by the University of Tasmania (Advancement Office).
The Program is Australia’s official national response to Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD 1 and DFTD 2), two extremely unusual contagious cancers ravaging the population of Tasmanian devils. It involves a partnership between the Tasmanian State Government and the University of Tasmania and Australian Zoo and Aquarium Association, backed by the international conservation and wildlife management expert community. The Program is delivered through the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE) as well as, wildlife parks and zoos in Australia and international collaborations with research institutions and universities in Australia and overseas.
To help fulfil this vision, the Appeal was created in 2003 to raise funds to support the primary objectives of the Program (as outlined in Section 2.1) and the University continues to manage the fundraising and disbursement for the Appeal.
The Appeal makes funds available through the University of Tasmania’s Advancement Office on receiving advice from the Tasmanian Devil Research Advisory Committee (TDRAC). TDRAC’s grant allocation priorities are established by agreement between the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program and the University of Tasmania. Grant applications will be assessed as to whether their purpose aligns closely with those priorities. The Program and the University of Tasmania have agreed on the following research priorities:
- Identify and develop a prophylactic therapy such as a vaccine or immunotherapy for devil facial tumour diseases.
- Quantify the impact of anthropogenic induced threats on the population viability of devils and identify effective methods to mitigate them.
- Identify factors, including new disease outbreaks and habitat continuity, which limit genetic and demographic connectivity across the island of Tasmania.
- Determine the distribution and impact of DFT2.
- Determine if releasing insurance devils into the wild is beneficial, neutral or detrimental to wild devil population dynamics, DFTD epidemiology and evolution of natural disease resistance.
2021 Grants have been awarded.
For further information, please see:
- University of Tasmania Scholarships and Prizes Program
- Grant and Scholarship Guidelines (PDF 520KB)
- Grant and Scholarship Application Form (PDF 400KB)
Over $3.5 million has been awarded in grants and scholarships since 2005. See the full list of recipients:
Dr Eric Guiler Tasmanian Devil Research Grant
Grants of up to $50,000 are available to assist with research costs for projects endorsed by the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program. Decisions according to research priorities and as funding allows.
Dr Eric Guiler Tasmanian Devil Research Grant - HDR
Grants of up to $25 000 are available to assist with research costs for projects endorsed by the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program. Decisions according to research priorities and as funding allows.
Dr Eric Guiler Honours Scholarship and the Dr Eric Guiler Tall Foundation Tasmanian Devil Honours Scholarship
Up to two scholarships will be awarded each year by the Tasmanian Devil Research Advisory Committee in recognition of the work of the late Dr Guiler in zoological teaching and research. $5,000 is to support the Honours student and $2,000 to support the research cost associated with their project.
Associate Professor Erik Wapstra
Deputy Associate Dean, Research
College of Sciences and Engineering, University of Tasmania
Dr Rachal Alderman
Manager, Wildlife Management, DPIPWE
Emeritus Professor Greg Woods
Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania
Saint Rooks
Project Manager
Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, DPIPWE
Professor Elissa Cameron
Professor, School of Biological Sciences
University of Canterbury and Zoology and Zoology, University of Tasmania
Rebecca Cuthill
Associate Director, Philanthropy
Advancement Office, University of Tasmania
Devil vaccine research
Our vision is to create a vaccine that will give Tasmanian devils lifelong protection from Devil Facial Tumour Disease.
2015 saw the start of the journey in the fight to secure the future for the Tasmanian devil has commenced. The creation of a vaccine will ensure a disease-free future for the Tasmanian devil living where it belongs, in the wild.
With losses of well over 80 percent of Tasmanian devils through contagious cancer - Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) - the future for the devil looked bleak.
However, during the past ten years of collaborative research and conservation programs, progress has been extraordinary. An Insurance Population has been established, the impact of the disease in the wild is monitored regularly and disease-free facilities to hold the species in wild and semi-wild populations have been built.
Investigation into the nature of DFTD and determining paths to halt the spread of the disease has progressed significantly. Researchers are now in the position to develop a vaccine, rekindling hopes of saving this iconic species in the wild.
The ambitious goal of vaccine development is now a reality. The next step is to validate the research and trial and refine the vaccine with 60 wild Tasmanian devils over the next three years. This research is a collaborative worldwide effort, being led by the University of Tasmania’s Menzies Institute for Medical Research.
Right now we have a historic opportunity to take a proactive role in securing the future for the Tasmanian Devil.
Tasmanian devil stories
View the latest Devils' Advocate E-Newsletter - If you would like to keep up-to-date with the Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal, please subscribe here.