We are delighted to announce that the overarching ‘Save the Tasmanian Devil Program’ (STDP) has awarded a conservation grant in the amount of $350,000 to the Devil Ark project. We are extremely grateful and humbled by the contribution which we learned about on 29 October. It provides important recognition of Devil Ark in the combined efforts to avert the extinction of the Tasmanian Devil. The announcement of the awarding of the grant to Devil Ark was issued as a joint press release by the Honourable Tony Burke Australian Government Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and communities; and the Honourable David O’Byrne, Tasmanian Minister for Environment, Parks and Heritage. The grant is particularly heartening as it follows a string of unsuccessful requests for assistance from a range of mainland government agencies. As Devil Ark transforms from a ‘good idea’ to one of the most important conservation breeding projects in the country, it is hoped that both the State (NSW) and Federal governments will directly provide some level of support for the project.
