University students, retirees, animal lovers and dedicated locals are among the hundreds of volunteers who have given their time and energy to the Tasmanian devil disease program.

Volunteers from as far away as the USA, Asia and Europe have worked alongside enthusiastic locals, with some staying for a few weeks – others remain committed for years.

The volunteer programs aim to provide people with a special understanding of what the DFTD project does and what we they are aiming for, as well as developing new skills and fantastic opportunities for personal development.

Steve Prather and Sonja Hartman from Montana USA spent January 2007 assisting DPIW Scientific officer Jason Wiersma trapping Devils in Buckland for the Field Monitoring Program.

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Volunteering with the Field Monitoring Program

The Monitoring team will continue to trap a number of sites across the State throughout 2008. A typical survey goes for approximately 11 - 12 days.

While team leaders trap and release devils, volunteers assist through duties such as scrubbing and cleaning traps and recording data.

The days can be long, the weather unpredictable and the mobile phone coverage will be limited or non-existent. You will, however, get to visit some amazing places, including beautiful farming properties on the northwest coast and near Mt Field National Park, a selective forestry area in the mountains near Lake St Clair National Park, an area of dry deciduous forest near picturesque Orford on the east coast, and Mt William National Park (on the north-east tip of the State).

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Volunteering with the Wild Management Program

The Management team will continue disease suppression trials on the Forestier-Tasman Peninsulas. A typical survey goes for approximately 11 - 12 days.

While Team Leaders trap and release devils, volunteers assist through duties such as scrubbing and cleaning traps. Again, the days can be long, the weather unpredictable and the mobile phone coverage will be limited or non-existent. The Forestier-Tasman Peninsula's trips cover many different locations across the peninsulas and you may even have time to visit well-known historical sites such as Port Arthur and Eaglehawk Neck.

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Volunteering with the Captive Management Program

Although the insurance population of devils has been moved to mainland zoos, we still need to maintain a small number of Tasmanian devils in captivity to assist with various research projects, including working towards development of a vaccine. We need people who can work as part of the small team of keepers, and help to care for our captive animals on a regular basis, either for a few hours a day or a day a week.

The work involves animal keeper duties, as well as assisting with the enrichment program. This involves changing the pens around each day to maintain a stimulating environment for the devils.

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How to Register

Volunteers can really make a difference. If this sounds like something that might interest you, information and volunteer registration forms are available from the contact below:

Contact: Devil Facial Tumour Disease Project 134 Macquarie Street PO Box 44 HOBART TAS 7001 Phone: 03 6233 2006 Fax: 03 6233 3477 Email: DevilDisease.Enquiries@dpiw.tas.au

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