Naive devils need scaring: researcher
Posted
Chrissy Pukk, Scientific Officer, Wildlife Management Branch, Tasmanian Department Primary Industry and Water (ABC News: Fiona Breen)
A scientist involved in the release of hand-reared tasmanian devils into the Forestier Peninsular in Tasmania's south, is urging people to scare off the animals if they see them in the local community.
12 healthy devils were released in the wild early in December, as part of a program to assess the best method of releasing quarantined devils into the wild.
The animals have been fitted with electronic collars that record their movements, they will be trapped in the next two weeks and the information collected.
Scientists have been given anecdotal evidence from farmers, that one of the devils has been seen near sheep and dogs in the area.
Scientific officer, Chrissy Pukk, says the devils are naive and need to be scared off with a bit of noise.
"They're a little bit more savvy around humans and less savvy around dogs and things like that, so they are a bit of a concern," she said
"But they seem to be ok, a couple had put on weight and a couple had lost a bit of weight."
