STH OUTLET DISASTER FOR DEVILS

THE discovery of a cluster of Tasmanian devils run over on a busy Tasmanian highway has prompted calls for a speed reduction on the stretch of road.

Hobart’s Rebekah Debrey said she was horrified to find three young devils dead on the Southern Outlet in the early hours of Sunday.

“At first I thought there were two devils that were feasting on a dead possum, and then was shocked to see there was a third one,” Ms Debrey said.

“It’s frustrating and disappointing, because there were no brake marks there to indicate anyone had tried to stop.”

Ms Debrey — who often assesses roadkill and reports findings to Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary — said she had noticed increased wildlife on the Southern Outlet at night.

About 500,000 Tasmanian animals are killed on Tasmanian roads every year.

There are said to be about 25,000 devils left in the wild.

“There are road signs in place but I think it just comes down to motorists not caring,” Ms Debrey said.

“Like speed limits are lowered during school times, I think the whole stretch of road should be dropped from 100km/ h to 80km/ h at night time to avoid more animals having to die.”

Tasmanian wildlife scientist and roadkill expert Bruce Englefield said research suggested a night time speed limit of 60km/ h- 70km/ h on state roads would significantly lower roadkill.

Mr Englefield recently conducted a study of the Southern Outlet and Huon Hwy along a 6km stretch of road, researching the effectiveness of virtual fence technology that is said to deter animals from nearing roads.

“Although it was a supplementary item to the study, during 128 days of monitoring there was a max speed of 186km/ h recorded and every night someone on average travelled 132km/ h,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter what you do or how many signs and virtual fences you put up, if people are prepared to speed at night, they are going to kill devils.”

Expert and Tasmanian devil Unzoo owner John Hamilton said the species was growing in number in recent months after a troubled past two decades, where about 90 per cent of populations were wiped out by facial tumours.

“I’m surprised to hear devils were found on the Southern Outlet. The good thing is it shows devils in the South are breeding,” he said.

“The pattern is young devils have just become independent from their mothers, as they do around December, and lots of half- grown devils try to find their own way instead of remaining in the den reliant on their mother for food.

“Unfortunately at this time of year there is more traffic on the road. We support a roll out of night owl technology [ virtual fencing] and we are working with authorities to hopefully get that rolled out into some devil hot spots.”