In
2007, I set out to experience a Devil Trapping session for
my Documentary "Devils on the Verandah"
I
was to meet Jason Wiersma, Scientific officer for the Department
of Primary Industries and Water at the Buckland Military
Safebase. On arrival I waited at a security gate and distant
gunfire told me that I was not going any further.
|
Jason
Wiersma
DPIW Scientific Officer |
At
7.00am Jason and two volunteers
Steve Prather and Sonja Hartman from Montana USA arrived.
After introductions Jason signed in at the security office
and we proceeded up a dirt track where we were confronted
by a military welcoming party.
Stopped
at the gate with guns pointed in our direction was certainly
an interesting experience. After identification was established
we were on our way.
A
further 5 minute drive through native forest took us to
our first trap which was empty. Jason checked the trap and
sprayed concoction of rotten lambs flaps, fish and oil to
lure the Devils into the trap and reset it. A brief conversation
and placing of bets as to how many Devils they would catch
kept the morning interesting and light hearted. Sonja was
sure they would trap at least one quoll.
We
hit the trail again, coming across two more empty traps
and then finally we came across a closed trap and it was
action stations all round. On went the jumpsuits, the aprons,
the gloves, face masks and glasses. All necessary to protect
both the handler and the Devil.
As
so much is still unknown about DFTD,
It is important that the area is left how it was found and
that all equipment used is sterilised, disinfected or burned
so not to risk contaminating other sites and further spreading
the disease. Only those in direct contact with the Devil
or the traps are required to suit up, so we were spared
from looking like - well I won't say!
Fully
geared up Jason heads straight for the trap. Lifting the
lid we see a very relaxed Devil. Jason gently places a small
bag over the Devils eyes to keep it calm and then scans
the Devil for a microchip. The machine beeps indicating
that they have a recapture, in other words this devil has
been caught and examined before.
The
devil remains calm, it does not attempt to run away or struggle
in anyway. Something most people would expect with the unfortunate
reputation that the devil has as an aggressive and vicious
animal. In reality the devil is actually a timid, shy and
sensitive animal.
After establishing with volunteer Sonja that this devil
had not been examined this trip, Jason and Steve tip the
devil from the trap and into a sack so it can be examined.
The devil is then weighed.
From
data already obtained we find out that it is a female devil
and is approximately two years of age and had no sign of
the DFTD disease when last examined.
Jason
did a full examination of the devil checking the face, teeth
and mouth for any evidence of the disease, also the general
health of the devil and any parasites it may have by checking
the rest of its body including it's pouch and the thickness
of the tail which is a strong indication of a devils overall
health. The tail stores fat and the bigger the tail the
better chance the devil has of survival.
This
devil was lucky and at this stage had no sign of the disease
and was given a clean bill of health from Jason. This was
a positive start. While the devil was being examined, Steve
was scrubbing and disinfecting the devil trap so that it
could be reset to hopefully catch another devil the next
day.
Before
moving on to the next sight all equipment must me cleaned
and disinfected so not to cause cross contamination.
From
about 15 traps that we checked only four contained devils,
which showed the dramatic drop in population of devils in
the area. Our second devil was a large three year old male
who had been captured only a few days before. He had already
been examined so we were able to let him go immediately
without causing him any more stress. The sad thing was that
he did have DFTD and the lesions were obvious on his face.
He was a good looking devil and with my fondness for these
animals, it was hard to harbour the thought that this devil
will probably be dead from an agonising death in about two
months.
The next devil we came across was a puppy and was a new
devil which had not been captured before. It was a female
devil and a small lump was detected below her mouth which
had the signs of DFTD. Jason did a full examination as well
as microchip the devil and took tissue samples.
Our
final devil of the day was a very young puppy. He had also
been caught during this trip, he had no signs of the disease
and we were able to let the little fella go straight away.
I
was very impressed with Jason. His love of animals was obvious,
he treated each devil extremely gently and with respect.
Jason is a wildlife biologist and intially worked with Eagles.
This work earned him an Australian of the Year award.
Jason has worked for the Devil Disease Program for close
to 4 years and in that time he has developed the Remote
Sensor Camera Project. Cameras are set up in areas such
as dense rainforest and remote areas where it is impossible
for scientist to set and monitor traps. Meat is planted
to lure the Devil in, they activate a sensor and a photo
of the devil is taken. From this photo, they are able to
establish whether the devil has been infected by the disease.
Story by Debbie Thoy
Thanks
to Jason Wiersma, Steve Prather, Sonja Hartman and the Department
of Primary Industries and Water.
For more information go to www.dpiw.tas.gov.au
