The deal sees AAT Kings sponsoring the husbandry and care of five Tasmanian devils in the research program that is developing a vaccine for the disease. 

Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal manager Rebecca Cuthill said the support of AAT Kings will make a significant difference, funding the ongoing keeper fees, food, appropriate pens and care of the devils while they are in the Richmond research facility. 

“What it shows is the huge level of public support that is still out there for the Tasmanian devil,” she said.

Ms Cuthill said without this support the appeal would not be able to fund research that is vital for the preservation of the species, in particular the development of a vaccine that is about to be trialled. 

On Tuesday, 33 vaccinated devils will be released at Stony Head in a vaccine trial. 

Save the Tasmanian Devil team leader of monitoring and management Sam Fox said there have been a range of initiatives to help ensure the safety of the devils once they are released, learnt from previous releases. 

“In that first two to four week period after release the devils are quite vulnerable,” she said. “They may not be familiar with certain threats, like vehicles and dogs, those sorts of things. So that period of time is when we need to give them the most help.”

The devils will all be fitted with GPS collars, which will allow them to be tracked and located, and fixed and portable road signs warning motorists there are devils in the area have been set up. 

There have also been efforts to condition the devils to avoid cars, by pairing experience of cars with a stimulus they dislike, in the hope it will reduce the number of devils hit by cars. 

Ms Fox said there has been an inter-agency approach to preparing for the devil’s release, with many stakeholders contributing to the effort to ensure their safety.