The Search for Mainland Devils

Although it is not common knowledge, five Tasmanian devils have been collected from the wild in mainland Victoria during the 88 years between 1903 and 1991 (see the photo of two mainland Tasmanian devil specimens).

Opinion is divided as to the origin of these devils.

It is commonly accepted the devil became extinct on mainland Australia about 500 years ago. These five specimens may well be left over mainland stock, or they may be Tasmanian stock introduced to the mainland.

This website is dedicated to the search for mainland Tasmanian devils, including an examination of the history of the five Victorian specimens, and devils in mainland breeding programs today.

The latest news headlines relating to devil facial tumour disease (DFTD), and carnivorous marsupials in general are presented in the Newswatch column below.

Our progress reports and media releases are announced at right.

1. Devil genome being mapped in USA
2. Remote cameras being used in Tasmania to track DFTD-infected devils
3. Fire retardants in household computers may have caused DFTD
4. Devils developing resistance?
5. Skin grafts to detect DFTD-resistance
6. Spare a thought for Gilbert's Potoroo
7. Motorists asked to slow down for devil
8. Tasmanian wildlife parks want to unite for captive programs
9. Satellite tracked devils to be released into wild
10. Immune response! Cedric the devils' saviour?
11. 100 new devils scheduled for quarantine
12. Wildlife park also calls for more funding
13. Disease resistant devils?
14. Tasmanian devil upgraded from vulnerable to endangered
15. Political party pledges A million to save the devil
16. 30 kilometre devil fence
17. State Government believes funding is enough
18. Political party calls for additional DFTD funding
19. Amil needed for devil research
20. 25 more devils headed for mainland
21. Australia Zoo to receive Tasmanian devils
22. Where Devils Run Wild
23. Devil kite flies
24. 9 year old boy launches devil calendar
25. Foot, bike, kayak race to raise cancer funds
26. Research into devil diet
27. Devils on display at Royal Hobart Show
28. Tasmanian devil husbandry course
29. Devil funding won't start until entire wild population is infected
30. Call for m to save the devil
31. Another 90 devils for Project Ark
32. Disease spreads to Tasmanian north-west
33. More devils headed for mainland; breeding to increase
34. New research paper
35. Healesville devil has no cancer
36. Platypus and Koala at risk of DFTD-like diseases
37. Devil kite to raise DFTD awareness
38. DFTD may have reached mainland
39. Details of the insurance population project
40. Short multimedia presentation from Australian Reptile Park
41. Senior researchers speak out on Gunn's issue
42. Push for upgrading devil to endangered status
43. New devil sanctuary aborted due to threats from community
44. New devil breeding sanctuary planned
45. Gunn's Pulp Mill to create devil habitat
46. Public may comment on Gunn's pulp mill until 31 August 2007
47. Opinion piece on the causes of DFTD
48. Warner Bros continues to help fund devil research
49. Why don't whales get cancer?
50. Second quoll search in Queensland
51. Synchrotron will be used to develop test for DFTD
52. Super microscope to be used in DFTD research?
53. Suzuki Australia helps fund Healesville devil breeding program
54. Mainland research project on devil cousins - spotted tailed quolls
55. Immunohistochemical Characteristics of DFTD reported
56. Vaccine hopes
57. 8 year old raises A,500 for devil research

1. Kershaw's devil remains
2. First photos in, two new cameras out
3. First camera deployed
4. Historical evidence for mainland devils
5. Searching for Tasmanian devils - in Victoria
6. How many mainland devil specimens are there?
7. Mainland Devils website launch!