Visitors to the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery this summer will have the opportunity to gain a unique insight into one of Australia’s most interesting marsupials.
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The Remarkable Tasmanian Devil exhibition is all about the devil you do know, and the devil you don’t.
The Tasmanian devil is Australia’s largest marsupial carnivore, and has historically been viewed as vicious and dangerous.
However, with the publicity surrounding the Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumor Disease, the public image of the devil has been transformed into seeing the devil as a misunderstood survivor that is beating the odds.
The exhibition will explore differing perspectives of the devil, such as historical tales, cartoons, and scientific research.
TMAG Director Janet Carding said the exhibition would fascinate visitors of all ages.
“The Remarkable Tasmanian Devil shows that the devil is a unique species, integral to Tasmania’s ecological and cultural landscape,” Ms Carding said.
“Through exploring aspects of devil biology, ecology and behaviour, visitors will be able to learn why the devil has endured when Tasmania’s other large predator, the thylacine, succumbed within 150 years of European arrival.
“It is our hope that visitors will leave the exhibition with not only a better understanding of the devil’s history and biology, but also energised to make sure that the devil doesn’t meet the same fate as its fellow marsupial carnivore,” she said.
“There are such simple actions we can all take, such as slowing down and driving more carefully at night to avoid killing devils on our roads.
“I am sure The Remarkable Tasmanian Devil will alter our visitors’ perceptions of what is an extraordinary Tasmanian animal,” Ms Carding said.
I am sure The Remarkable Tasmanian Devil will alter our visitors’ perceptions of what is an extraordinary Tasmanian animal.
- Janet Carding, Director of the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery
Senior Curator of Vertebrate Zoology Kathryn Medlock said the exhibition aims to highlight a different side to the Tasmanian devil.
“The devils have been under so much of a threat lately,” Ms Medlock said.
“I really wanted to do something because it’s been 21 years since the facial tumor disease was first noticed.”
The disease first came to light in 1996 when wildlife photographer Cristo Baars photographed a devil with the affliction in the north-east of the state.
Ms Medlock said the three different galleries that make up the exhibition will show visitors a different side to the devil that they may not have yet seen.
“The first gallery introduces the devil. It looks into their history, their interactions with people, and their relationship with aboriginal people,” Ms Medlock said.
“It will highlight the works of people who worked on devils at an early stage.”
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Ms Medlock said many interesting stories have been uncovered, such as devils begin taken to Egypt with Tasmanian troops during WWI, and being presented by movie starlets to the Los Angeles Zoo in 1939.
Ms Medlock said the second gallery examines the Tasmanian devil itself, looking into their biology and behaviour.
The final gallery will highlight the Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumor Disease, and the efforts that are being made to combat it.
There is a range of partners that TMAG have worked with to bring the devil’s story to light, such as the Save the Tasmanian Devil program, Devils@Cradle, the Menzies Institute for Medical Research, the University of Tasmania, Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Tasmanian Land Conservatory.
“The underlying theme is mainly of the different conceptions of the animal,” Ms Medlock said.
“It’s quite sad that it’s taken this disease to show people just how important the devils are to Tasmania and our eco-system.
“People are much more sympathetic now. They’ve gained a much greater respect for the Tasmanian devil,” Ms Medlock said.
The Remarkable Tasmanian Devil is on show in Argyle Galleries 1-3 at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery in Hobart until May 6, 2018.
Accompanying the exhibition is a range of public talks and events beginning in December and running through to 2018.
Specially commissioned and loaned works will be on show, from Tasmanian artists such as Vicki West, Michael McWilliams, Raymond Arnold, and Matt Calvert.
The museum is also running a school holiday program, where children can join the TMAG learning team to create a Tasmanian devil sculpture out of recycled and organic materials, which will be on display in the Watergate Courtyard from January 22 to 26.
Devil Toolkits are available for children under 6 to loan whilst exploring the exhibition, and include devil finger puppets, puzzles, and a sketch book.
More information about the exhibition can be found on the TMAG website.