Saving the Tasmanian Devil: Recovery through Science-based Management

Description

The Tasmanian devil is threatened by Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), a transmissible form of cancer that has reduced the population by over 80%. Hunting, extreme climate events, vehicle collision and habitat destruction also put pressure on this endangered species. The recovery effort to save the Tasmanian devil commenced over 15 years ago as a collaborative initiative between the Tasmanian government, the Australian government, the Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia, and many research institutions. Saving the Tasmanian Devil documents the journey taken by partner organisations in discovering what DFTD is, the effect it has on wild devil populations, and the outcomes achieved through research and management actions. Chapters describe all aspects of devil conservation, including the captive devil populations, applied pathology, immunology and genetic research findings, adaptive management, and the importance of advocacy and partnerships. This book will provide management practitioners and conservation scientists with insight into the complexities of undertaking a program of this scale, and will also be of value to researchers, students and others interested in conservation.

Carolyn J. Hogg is the Research Manager of the AustralasianWildlife Genomics Group at the University of Sydney. She has been working onthe conservation of threatened species for over 20 years both in Australia andoverseas. Samantha Fox is a wildlife biologist with a focus on theconservation of threatened species. She is passionate about incorporatingresults from applied research into management decisions and has a strongcollaborative emphasis in her work. David Pemberton is a wildlife biologist and is currently theManager of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program. He has published over 50scientific papers and three books including co-authoring the book The TasmanianDevil: A Unique and Threatened Animal. Katherine Belov is the Professor for Comparative Genomics atthe University of Sydney. She is a world leader in the genetics of immunity ofAustralian mammals and has developed new paradigms for the management ofAustralian wildlife populations threatened by disease. She has published over150 papers on immunity and conservation.

"The information gleaned from such a research compendium will be an invaluable resource for future management of this delightful and unusual species. This publication is a credit to the large dedicated team that has thrown themselves wholeheartedly into raising awareness of this species and trying to save it from extinction." -- Katherine Moseby * The Quarterly Review of Biology 95(4) * "A convenient, authoritative and objective synthesis." -- Ian Abbott * Pacific Conservation Biology 26(4) *