Teacher KiT - Save the Tasmanian Devil

Transcription

Teacher
Kit
www.tassiedevil.com.au
introduction
The Tasmanian devil is only found in the wild in Australia’s island State of Tasmania.
Despite its reputation as a fierce beast, the Tasmanian devil is a timid creature that poses no danger
to humans. People who work with Tasmanian devils invariably grow to love their personality – they’re
feisty, raucous and bursting with curiosity.
The species has suffered a population crash over the last ten years and is now listed as Endangered.
This decline is due to an infectious cancer known as Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). First
recorded in 1996, DFTD is a fatal condition where devils develop cancers around the mouth and head.
We hope that by learning more about this wonderful native animal and the terrible disease from which
it is suffering you will be inspired, not only to help the Tasmanian devil, but to do what you can to keep
all of our native animals safe.
The Program
The Program was established in 2003 as the official response to the threat posed by DFTD.
It is an initiative of the Australian and Tasmanian Governments, established to protect this
keystone species.
If the Tasmanian devil was lost to the wild at least 70 other native species could be put at risk.
The Program is working with wildlife and disease experts throughout the world in an epic conservation
effort. Our goal is to ensure the survival of an ecologically functioning population of Tasmanian devils
in the wild.
The Program’s key strategies are: the establishment of an Insurance Population of healthy Tasmanian
devils, laboratory and field based investigations of the disease, and the development of disease suppression
and management programs in the wild.
It’s not black and white
This is a complex problem. There are no easy solutions, but we do have a window of opportunity
to prevent this iconic species from becoming extinct.
The support of the Australian community – both in raising awareness and raising funds – is vital
to the success of our conservation effort. With your support we can save the Tasmanian devil.
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save the Tasmanian devil program – teacher kit
Note to teachers
The worksheets and BLMs provided in this teacher kit comprise 37 tasks grouped in lower, middle
and upper primary age ranges. Many of the pages, particularly in the middle grouping, may be utilised
across age ranges or on tasks where some differentiation is called for.
It is suggested that information, literature and websites provided by the Program are used to further
support the tasks. Begin by reading and discussing the exercises prior to starting the task. The class
can then come together to discuss their answers or findings and share responses on completion.
The comprehension questions in the workbook are a mixture of literal and inferential.
The art work may be enhanced by enlarging to A3 and/or cutting out to place over a coloured
and/or patterned background.
The tasks lend themselves to both group and individual work in the classroom.
We hope that this kit will inspire your students to learn more about our native wildlife, particularly those
that are threatened and endangered. It is designed to help them to see that they can make a difference
and to show them how they can get involved in saving the Tasmanian devil.
3
contents
LOWER PRIMARY RESOURCES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Tasmanian devil wordsearch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Word fit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Describing the Tasmanian devil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Tasmanian devil information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
The Tasmanian devil report. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Poster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Join the dots. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Colour-me-in exercises. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 – 14
MIDDLE PRIMARY RESOURCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Thinker’s Key exercises. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 – 24
Poster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Brochure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Tasmanian devil face wordsearch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Tasmanian devil wordsearch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Tasmanian devil history . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Tasmanian devil cloze exercise. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Tasmanian devil life cycle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Naming the Tasmanian devil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Making a moving Tasmanian devil. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 – 35
Crack the devil code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Tasmanian devil quizzer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Do your own research. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
UPPER PRIMARY RESOURCES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Tasmanian devil wordsearch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Save the Tasmanian devil quiz. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Tasmanian devil quizzers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 – 43
Crack the devil code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Ecosystem impacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Devil Facial Tumour Disease quiz. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
HOW YOU CAN HELP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Hello or goodbye?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Help save a devil today. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Report roadkill. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Credits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
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lower PRIMARY
RESOURCES
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Tasmanian Devil wordsearch
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Devil
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Tasmania
Tumour
Marsupial
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Disease
Pouch
Shy
Den
WORD FIT
Choose the word that best fits each box. Look carefully at the letters.
Word List:
marsupial endangered devil shy teeth Tasmania
den pouch protected disease tumour carnivore
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Describing the Tasmanian devil
The Tasmanian devil is a marsupial. It is the size of a small dog with a short,
thick tail. The fur is mostly black, but has some white patches on the chest.
It is a carnivorous marsupial, which means it eats meat. Adult males are
usually larger than adult females. Large males weigh up to 12 kg and are
about 30cm tall.
1 What type of animal is the
Tasmanian devil?
2 What colour is the devil’s fur?
3 What type of food does the
devil eat?
4How much do male devils weigh?
5How tall are Tasmanian devils?
6Colour in the Tasmanian devil.
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Tasmanian Devil information
The Tasmanian devil is a marsupial about the size of a small dog. It is mostly
black in colour, with some white patches on its chest. Adult males are larger
than adult females. The Tasmanian devil weighs up to 12kg and is about
30cm tall.
The Tasmanian devil only lives in Tasmania. Its habitat is forests and woodlands
of northern, eastern and central Tasmania.
The Tasmanian devil eats whatever it can find in the bush. The devil’s
scientific name means ‘meat lover.’ Large jaws and teeth allow it to eat other
animals. The devil eats wallabies, possums, wombats, birds and fish. It walks
long distances to search for food.
The Tasmanian devil is nocturnal, which means it is awake at night and sleeps
during the day. In the day time it usually hides in a den, which is like a nest in
the ground, or a cave, or a hollow log. Sometimes it hides in thick bush where
it can’t be seen.
The devil is endangered, which means not many of its species are left.
Tasmanian devils are dying because of Devil Facial Tumour Disease, which
is a cancer and begins as small lumps around the face and mouth.
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The Tasmanian Devil report
Read the information about the Tasmanian devil and create your own report.
Name:
Description:
Habitat:
Diet:
three interesting facts
1:
2:
3:
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Poster
Design your own poster to encourage others to help save the Tasmanian devil.
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join the dots
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colour-me-in!
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colour-me-in!
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Middle PRIMARY
RESOURCES
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thinker’s key
The Commonality
This key is a mind-stretcher. It is great for stimulating creative ideas as well as the
development of unusual concepts.
Compare the Tasmanian Devil and a raven...
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thinker’s key
The Question
Think up a question for this
answer.
The answer is
Tasmanian devil!
This key lets you show what you
know in a unique way.
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thinker’s key
The Alternative
This key makes you use your creative thinking and lets you discover new solutions.
work out three ways to catch a Tasmanian Devil
without a trap.
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2:
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thinker’s key
The Alternative
work out three ways to keep an insurance population
of Tasmanian Devils.
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thinker’s key
The Alternative
work out three new names to replace ‘devil’
in the Tasmanian Devil’s name.
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thinker’s key
What If?
This key lets you come up with lots of original and creative ideas. It is a great tool
for showing what you already know.
What if there were no more Tasmanian Devils?
1:
2:
3:
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thinker’s key
What If?
What if you owned a Tasmanian Devil as a pet?
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thinker’s key
What If?
What if you found a cure for Devil Facial
Tumour Disease?
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thinker’s key
What If?
What if Tasmanian Devils were called Tasmanian
pandas?
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2:
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Poster
Design your own poster to tell people what to do if they find a Tasmanian devil roadkill.
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brochure
Design a brochure describing the Tasmanian devil, the threats to its continued
existence and what you can do to help the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program protect
the species.
You may want to include the following:
AROUND AUSTRALIA
• Raise awareness of the Tasmanian devil and efforts to save the species.
• Consider making donations and arranging fundraising events.
WHEN IN TASMANIA
• Help to monitor Tasmanian devils by reporting sightings of live devils and roadkill.
• Remind drivers to be aware of devils on roads, particularly from dusk till dawn, and
to drive carefully.
• Write to local councils about putting up signs, reflectors, etc. to remind people to drive
slowly with Tasmanian devils in mind.
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Tasmanian Devil
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Tasmanian Devil Wordsearch
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Tasmanian Devil History
Tasmanian devils once occurred on
mainland Australia, with fossils having been
found in many places. It is believed the devil
became extinct on the mainland some 400
years ago – before European settlement.
devils probably became extinct there due
to increasing aridity and the spread of the
dingo, which was prevented from entering
Tasmania by Bass Strait.
Today the devil is a Tasmanian icon.
But it hasn’t always held this status.
Tasmanian devils were considered a nuisance by early European settlers of Hobart Town,
who complained of raids on poultry yards. In 1930 the Van Diemen’s Land Company
introduced a bounty scheme to remove devils, as well as Tasmanian tigers and wild dogs,
from their northwest properties: 2/6 (25 cents) for male devils and 3/6 (35 cents) for females.
For more than a century devils were trapped and poisoned. They became very rare,
seemingly headed for extinction, but the population gradually increased after they were
protected by law in June 1941.
•How do we know that devils once
lived on mainland Australia?
• When did devils become extinct
on mainland Australia?
• What might have prevented the
dingo from spreading to Tasmania?
• What does the word ‘icon’ mean?
• What did the early European settlers
think of the Tasmanian devil?
•How were devils removed by the settlers?
• What helped to prevent the devil
from becoming extinct in the 1900s?
29
Tasmanian Devil CLOzE EXERCISE
The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) cannot be mistaken for any other
. Its spine-chilling
, black colour, and reputed bad
to call it the ‘devil’. Although only the
temper, led the early European
, it can sound and look incredibly
. In fact the devil
size of a small
and would rather
away than fight.
is very
The world's largest surviving
marsupial, the devil has a thick-set, squat
. The fur is mostly or
build with a relatively large, broad head and short, thick
, but white markings often occur on the rump and chest. Body size
wholly
and habitat. Adult males are usually
also varies greatly, depending on the
. Large males weigh up to 12 kg, and stand about
larger than adult
30cm high at the shoulder.
marsupial dog settlers tail
screeches
carnivorous black
fierce diet females shy run
30
Tasmanian Devil Life Cycle
Tasmanian devils usually mate
in March and the imps are born
in April. Gestation is 21 days.
More imps are born than can be
accommodated in the mother's
backward-opening pouch, which
has four teats.
Although four pouch young
sometimes survive, the average
survival is two or three. Each imp,
firmly attached to a teat, is carried
in the pouch for about four months.
After this time, the young start
venturing out of the pouch and are
then left in a simple den – often
a hollow log. Young are weaned
at five or six months of age, and
have generally left the mother and
are living alone in the bush by
late December. They usually start
breeding at the end of their second
year. Since they live an average of
6 years in the wild they only have
two to three breeding seasons.
1 What is a baby devil called?
2How many pouch young usually survive?
3 Why can no more than four young survive?
4How long do devils live for?
5 What do the devil young live in once they
leave the pouch?
6 Why do you think the female devil has
a backwards facing pouch?
31
Naming The Tasmanian Devil
Imagine that you have travelled from the other side of the world and landed on an
unexplored island. You camp close to deep forest that reaches down to the shore line.
As night approaches you leave your tent to sit with the rest of your family close to the fire.
Behind you lies the dark forest, inhabited by new animals and people. Suddenly you hear
a piercing screeching sound, fierce growling and grunts. You huddle closer to the fire,
wondering about the unknown creature that inhabits the forest.
What would you think the creature looked like?
Would you think that it was fierce?
Would it be scary?
Would you like to meet the creature?
How would you feel about the creature?
The European settlers heard those spine-tingling screeches and felt something like
you might have. They named the Tasmanian devil without having any real idea what
it was like.
In fact the devil is shy and timid. It mainly uses its terrible screeches and gaping jaws
to scare away threats or competitors so it won’t have to fight and risk serious injury.
The indigenous people of Tasmania called the devil by a variety of names, including
“purinina".
What do you think indigenous names, like purinina, meant?
32
Making a moving Tasmanian Devil
You will need:
• Card
• Pencil
• Paper fasteners
• Scissors
• Paints, crayons or coloured pens
Exercise 1:
Write out the instructions in the correct order to explain how
to make a moving devil. Use the pictures to help you.
Finally, paint or colour the devil’s face and body.
Fix the legs only to the back of the devil’s body with the paper fasteners.
Fix the tail to the top of the legs, but not the body, with fasteners.
Now you can move the tail and the legs will also move.
First draw the devil’s face and marking on the card.
Cut out the devils body, legs and tail.
Exercise 2:
Follow the instructions to make a moving Tasmanian devil.
33
34
35
Crack the devil code
To crack the code, match the answer to each sum to a letter in the code breaker. Write the letter under your answer for each sum and solve the secret message.
9
- 5
86
- 12
17
- 14
12
- 2
18
- 11
46
- 13
2
+ 8
29
- 19
52
+ 51
25
- 18
75
+ 21
4
+ 3
100
- 33
76
- 31
77
- 65
CODE BREAKER
36
7
E
74
R
10
T
103
H
4
P
96
D
12
L
45
I
67
V
33
C
3
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Tasmanian Devil quizzer
Folding Instructions:
• Cut out the square.
• Place the quizzer facedown. Fold two corners together to form a triangle. Crease
and unfold. Now fold the other two corners together. Crease and unfold again.
• Fold each corner to the centre point.
• Turn the folded paper over and fold each corner into the centre.
• Fold the square in half. Unfold it and fold it in half the other way.
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37
do your own research
You can find lots of information at the following websites:
www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/Topics/JCOK-69973H?open
www.environment.gov.au/epbc/publications/tasmanian-devil-policy.html
Tasmanian devil site for kids:
www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/WebPages/EKOE-6EXURG
Find out where you can see Tasmanian devils:
www.discovertasmania.com
www.tassiedevil.com.au/insurance population
38
Upper PRIMARY
RESOURCES
39
Tasmanian Devil wordsearch
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Save the Tasmanian Devil
What is the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program doing
to protect the devil?
To date, the contagious Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) has been recorded across more than
60 per cent of Tasmania. The Save the Tasmanian Devil Program’s mission is to maintain this iconic
animal as an ecologically functional wild species. The devil may not be extinct in a particular area, but
its numbers may become so small that the ecosystem changes. Some possible effects are more macropods
(such as kangaroos and wallabies) leading to an overgrazing of native grasses, the spread of introduced
and feral predators (such as cats, foxes and wasps) and an increase in native predators such as the quoll.
Research continues to test for DFTD-resistant devils, as well as a possible vaccine, but our highest priority
is to further expand the nationwide Insurance Population.
Our Insurance Population is made up of healthy Tasmanian devils that have been sent to wildlife parks
and zoos around Australia. The devils there are now happily breeding, far away from the disease.
The Save the Tasmanian Devil Program has been testing a large, free-range enclosure (FRE) on
Tasmanian’s east coast, which has been very successful. The task now is to work through the complexities
of managing captive populations. What size do the pens need to be to ensure devils retain their wild
behaviour? How many animals should be in each enclosure, and what should they eat? What male-tofemale ratio will give the best breeding outcomes?
The Program is investigating the use of islands off the coast of Tasmania. Another feature being
considered is the “virtual island”. This is a large fenced-off area, such as a peninsula or headland, where
devils are left to do their thing without the impact of the disease. There are still many questions to be
answered, including how we build and maintain a fence that could be many kilometres long and what the
impact of such a structure would be on other species and the community.
• What does DFTD stand for?
•In how much of Tasmania has DFTD been found?
• What is an Insurance Population?
• What are some of the difficulties facing setting up
free range enclosures?
• What is a “virtual island”?
• What questions need to be considered regarding the
establishment of “virtual islands”?
•Can you think of any other ways we might save the
Tasmanian devil?
41
Tasmanian Devil quizzer
The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) cannot be mistaken for any other marsupial. Its spinechilling screeches, black colour, and reputed bad temper led the early European settlers to call it a ‘devil’.
Although only the size of a small dog, it can sound and look incredibly fierce. In fact the Tasmanian devil
is a very shy and timid animal. It mainly uses its terrible screeches and gaping jaws to scare away threats
or competitors so that it won’t have to fight and risk serious injury.
The world's largest surviving carnivorous marsupial, the devil has a thick-set, squat build, with a relatively
large, broad head and short, thick tail. The fur is mostly or wholly black, but white markings often occur
on the rump and chest. Body size also varies greatly, depending on the diet and habitat. Adult males
are usually larger than adult females. Large males weigh up to 12kg, and stand about 30cm high
at the shoulder.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that devil numbers were quite variable over the past century, but were at
historic highs in the early 1990s. They were particularly common in forest, woodland and agricultural
areas of northern, eastern and central Tasmania.
These numbers have dropped since the 1996 identification of Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD)
– a fatal condition in Tasmanian devils characterised by cancers around the mouth and head.
1 What does the word carnivorous mean?
2How did the Tasmanian devil get its name?
3Describe what a devil looks like.
4 What is the devil’s scientific name?
5 Where in Tasmania were devils commonly found?
6 Why have devil numbers dropped since the 1990s?
7 What does the word ‘anecdotal’ mean?
42
Tasmanian devil Quizzer
The Tasmanian devil is mainly a scavenger and feeds on whatever is available. Powerful jaws and teeth
enable it to completely devour its prey – bones, fur and all. Wallabies and various small mammals and
birds are eaten, either as carrion or prey. Reptiles, amphibians, insects and even sea squirts have been
found in the stomachs of wild devils showing that they really are nature’s opportunists. Carcasses of sheep
and cattle provide food in farming areas. Tasmanian devils maintain bush and farm hygiene by cleaning
up carcasses. This can help reduce the risk of blowfly strike to sheep by removing food for maggots.
The Tasmanian devil is nocturnal (active after dark). During the day it usually hides in a den, or dense
bush. It roams considerable distances (up to 16km) along well-defined trails in search of food. It usually
ambles slowly with a characteristic gait, but can gallop quickly with both hind feet together. Young
Tasmanian devils are more agile and can climb trees. Although not territorial, Tasmanian devils have
a home range.
Tasmanian devils are famous for their rowdy communal feeding at carcasses. The noise and displays are
used to establish dominance amongst the pack. The famous gape or yawn of the Tasmanian devil that
looks so threatening can be misleading. This display is performed more from fear and uncertainty than
from aggression. Tasmanian devils produce a strong odour when under stress, but when calm and relaxed
they are not smelly. The Tasmanian devil makes a variety of fierce noises, from harsh coughs and snarls
to high pitched screeches. A sharp sneeze is used as a challenge to other devils and frequently comes
before a fight. Many of these spectacular behaviours are bluff and part of a ritual to minimise harmful
fighting when feeding communally at a large carcass.
1 Why do Tasmanian devils gape or yawn?
2 What do devils do when under stress?
3How does a devil challenge other devils?
4How much of its prey does a devil eat?
5 What do Tasmanian devils eat?
6 Why are devils sometimes rowdy?
7 What does nocturnal mean?
8 What are some of the noises that the
devil makes?
43
Crack the devil code
To crack the code, match the answer to each sum to a letter in the code breaker. Write the letter under
your answer for each sum and solve the secret message.
922
- 510
865
- 123
171
- 141
122
- 22
180
- 110
465
- 134
236
- 136
66
+ 34
526
+ 513
25
+ 45
756
+ 217
97
- 27
100
- 33
768
- 319
77
- 65
CODE BREAKER
44
70
E
12
L
973
D
412
P
30
O
331
C
742
R
67
V
449
I
1039
H
100
T
ecosystem impacts
The loss of the Tasmanian devil would mean more than the extinction of a species. We rely on devils
to maintain a balanced ecosystem.
Tasmanian devils are the glue that holds our environment together. If you take devils out of the picture,
then unwanted invaders, such as foxes, will thrive at the expense of more vulnerable native species such as
eastern barred bandicoots, Tasmanian bettongs, eastern quolls and native hens.
Members of the public often say that they don’t want to lose the devil because we’ve already lost the
Thylacine (Tasmanian tiger). Tasmanian tigers, wedge-tailed eagles and Tasmanian devils have
traditionally been our top predators. But with the loss of the Thylacine and the ‘endangered’ status of
the wedge-tailed eagle, we’ve come to rely solely on Tasmanian devils to maintain the ecological balance.
Carno-Hoovers
In the north-east of Tasmania, where the Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) was first observed, devil
numbers have possibly dropped to 5–10% of the pre–1996 population estimates.
As a result, 50–100 tonnes of food is being left in the environment each night. This food is the carcasses
of animals that devils, the ‘carno-Hoovers’ of Tasmania, would have normally cleaned up. This helps explain
why we are now getting evidence of foxes, and increases in feral cat numbers.
It’s not only nature lovers who will be affected. If the European red fox, for instance, becomes established
in Tasmania, it will cost the State economy up to $20 million in on-going damages and management costs.
Cats and foxes are the obvious winners if we lose the devil, but the consequences of an unbalanced ecosystem
go much further and include invertebrates
CENTRE
1st RIPPLE
2nd RIPPLE
that compete with devils for meat. European
Action
Primary Consequences Secondary Consequences
wasps stand to do very well and are already
preying on endangered native invertebrates.
er predator
act oth
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attr
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Quolls and ravens might benefit from the
decreasing numbers of devils, but how will
an increased population of browsing species
that might normally be suppressed by devils,
impact the land? It may cause over-grazing
of vegetation, leading to widespread erosion.
There are more than 600 species of plants
and animals currently threatened in
Tasmania. The loss of the Tasmanian devil
would impact, even devastate, many of them.
Decreasing
number of
Tasmanian
devils
From this information, and further
research, complete a ‘Ripple Effect’ diagram.
This will help show the consequences of the
declining numbers of devils.
45
Devil Facial Tumour Disease Quiz
1. What is Devil Facial Tumour Disease?
Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) is a fatal condition in Tasmanian devils which is characterised
by facial cancers. The cancers are first noticed in and around the mouth as small lesions or lumps.
These develop into large tumours around the face and neck and sometimes in other parts
of the body.
2. How does DFTD kill Tasmanian devils?
As the cancers develop in affected devils they find it hard to ingest food. As the animal weakens
it finds it difficult to compete with other animals for food. Affected animals usually die from starvation
and the breakdown of body functions within three to five months of the lesions first appearing.
3. Can DFTD spread to other animals?
To date no evidence has been found of Devil Facial Tumour Disease in other animals.
4. Could the devil facial tumours be caused by an accumulation of exposure to UV rays?
There is no evidence to date that this is the case. Animals in parks and zoos are less “shy” and do
sunbake, but there has been no evidence of DFTD spontaneously arising in healthy captive populations.
5. How do Tasmanian devils catch DFTD?
DFTD is a rare type of transmissible cancer. The cancerous cells are passed directly between devils as an
allograft. Put more simply, DFTD is spread by the cancer cells themselves being passed from one animal
to another, usually through biting.
6. Why is it so important that Tasmanian devils don’t become extinct in the wild?
We are already seeing the early signs of changes in the landscape from the decreasing devil population,
impacting on our agricultural industries as well as our environment. The decline in devil numbers means
there are now large amounts of surplus carrion in the landscape (up to 100 tonnes per day!) and other
carnivores are responding to that surplus. Introduced invasive species – such as feral cats, dogs and foxes
– pose serious problems. Most significant of all is the fox threat. Devils have probably previously acted
as a buffer to fox establishment in Tasmania. A fully established fox population would prey on at least
70 vertebrate species, directly endangering seven. The annual cost to the Tasmanian economy of the
fox establishing here would be up to $20 million.
46
how you can help
47
hello or goodbye?
To make sure it’s not goodbye, Tasmanian devils need your help!
Image provided by Mike Calder Photography.
Devil Facial Tumour Disease was discovered in Tasmanian devils in 1996.
It’s a contagious cancer spread through biting, and it is always fatal.
The devil population has suffered immensely and more than 80%
have been lost.
The Save the Tasmanian Devil Program supports the survival of the devil
in its natural habitat, the Tasmanian wilderness.
Funding is vital, and we need your help. Why not run
an activity at school, through your sports club or in your
local community?
Log on to www.tassiedevil.com.au/education
for more information and ideas.
The save the tasmanian Devil Appeal is the official
fundraising arm of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program
48
HELP SAVE A DEVIL TODAY
Supporters of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal come from all walks of life,
all united with 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 more are donating their time, effort and money to this urgent cause.
You can play your part in whichever way suits you best, knowing that every small
contribution goes a long way to helping save this iconic Tasmanian animal.
MAKE A DONATION
You can make a donation online, in person, on the phone – however you can manage it!
RUN A FUNDRAISER
Running your own fundraising event to support the Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal
is a fantastic way to get together a group of friends, co-workers, club members, a team
or even a class to hold a fundraiser in any style you choose.
Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal Fundraising Guidelines have been developed to help you
make your fundraising event a success, and to ensure it meets legislative requirements.
They also set out the roles and responsibilities of individuals or organisations who wish
to undertake a fundraising event to raise money for the Appeal.
The Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal fundraising resources might be useful for your
own fundraisers.
SHARE YOUR IDEAS
Don’t forget to share your story with us – your efforts are our
inspiration. You can upload your pictures and stories, and share
ideas on our Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal facebook site.
Log on to www.tassiedevil.com.au for swags of information about
these ideas, and to hear about the wonderful ways so many people
have helped raise vital money for the Tasmanian devil.
49
Report roadkill
Report Sightings
If you see a Tasmanian devil in the wild:
Report it to the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program by phone on 6233 2006,
or by email at [email protected]
If possible please tell us:
• The date of the sighting
• The location of the sighting
• The approximate size of the devil
• Whether the devil looked healthy or diseased
If you see a Tasmanian devil roadkill
Three ways to report roadkill
• Fill out a Roadkill Report form.
• Call the Save the Tasmanian devil Program on 6233 2006
• Take a photo and MMS it to 0427 733 511 with your name and the location.
Report forms are available from a number of businesses, wildlife parks and visitor centres throughout
Tasmania. Check our website for details. You can also fill out an online form at our website:
http://www.tassiedevil.com.au/roadkillproject.html
It is a good idea to keep a supply of report forms in your car then, when you see a roadkill devil, you can
fill out a form and drop it into the nearest mailbox as soon as possible.
If you see a roadkill Tasmanian devil west of the Murchison Highway that appears to have Devil Facial
Tumour Disease please call 6233 2006 immediately.
50
credits
Many people contributed their time, expertise and wonderful
artistic talent to bring this resource to life.
The Save the Tasmanian Devil Program would like to thank the following people:
TEACHERS:
Paul Robinson, Kate Vivarelli
ARTIST:
Lucinda Hunnam
[email protected]
Thinkers Keys were adapted from a concept by Tony Ryan, Australian Educational Consultant.
www.tonyryan.com.au
Save the Tasmanian Devil Teacher Kit
Kim M Nolan
Save the Tasmanian Devil Program
Resource Management and Conservation Division
Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment
Copywright:
©Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment
Reproduction of this publication for educational purposes is authorised without prior written
permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged.
Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited
without prior written permission of the copyright holder.
Published by:
Save the Tasmanian Devil Program
Resource Management and Conservation Division
GPO Box 44
Hobart Tasmania 7001
Australia
July 2010
National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry
Title: Save the Tasmanian Devil Program Teacher Kit [electronicresource] / Kim Nolan ... [et al.].
ISBN: 97807246653962 (pdf)
Subjects: Tasmanian devil – Tasmania.
Sarcophilus – Tasmania.
Endangered species – Tasmania – Management.
Animal welfare – Tasmania.
Other Authors/Contributors: Nolan, Kim.
Dewey Number: 599.27
51
STTP9746rj
P 03 6233 2006 F 03 6233 3477 E [email protected]
GPO Box 44 Hobart, Tasmania 7001 Australia www.tassiedevil.com.au

Teacher KiT - Save the Tasmanian Devil

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