Tinkerblue

Save the Devil

The following article appeared in Goway Travels  Globetrotting Magazine in Spring 2011

www.goway.com

www.goglobetrotting.com

 

 photo courtesy of Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary

Help Save the Devil.

The iconic Tasmanian Devil is in trouble... BIG trouble. For a number of years now an incurable disease, peculiar only to Devils, is threatening them with extinction. There is now a serious race against time to find a cure and isolate enough in secure disease free areas where the species can rebuild their populaion.

 

Devil Facial Tumor Disease (DFTD) is a contagious cancer that can be passed from Devil to Devil through biting. Once bitten, the Devil doesn't stand a chance and will die within 3 or  4 months. The disease was first identified in 1996 when there were about 250,000 Tasmania Devils in the wild. This number dropped to less than 50,000 in 2009.

 

Tasmanian Devil insurance populations have been established on the mainland. Devil Ark in New South Wales, part of the save the Tasmanian Devil Program, consists of a 350 hectare area with large "free range" pens for the animals. At least 500 healthy Devils are needed and they cost several thousand dollars a year to manage, and is going to be a long term project that could be 50 years.

 

One of the other threats to Devils is traffic, every year around 2000 Tasmanian Devils are killed on roads. These carnivorous marsupials use the streets as a common buffet table and since they move at night they are very difficult to see because of their dark fur.

 

Australia has already lost one of its marsupial carnivores - the Tasmanian Tiger. Its extinction is believed to be the result of land clearing, the introduction of dogs and bounties that were placed on the Tasmanian Tiger. The last Tiger died in 1936 at Hoarbrt Zoo.

 

The Tasmanian Devil has a notoriously cantankerous disposition. Early European settlers dubbed it a "devil" because of this, displaying their teeth and lunging and its array of spine chilling guttural growls. Travellers are warned not to leave their shoes out otherwise they will be devoured overnight.

 

 photo courtesy of Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary

How You Can Help

The University of Tasmania manages a Save the Devil program which monitors the Devil Facial Tumor Disease and also accepts tax deductible donations from Australia and the US. This website is updated regularly and is the best resouce for those wishing to keep up to date with the Tassie Devil's plight. 

http://tassiedevil.com.au/tasdevil.nsf/

If you are making a donation, whatever the amount, please let us know at helpingwildanimals@goway.com  This September the staff of the Goway organization will be doing special promotions to draw attention and support for the Tasmanian Devil.

 

Bonorong Wildlife Park

Just 20 minutes from Hobart is one of the best places to encouter devils. it is usually included in Goway's programs to Hobart. Bonorong has also launched Tasmania's first wildlife rescue program. The FOC Wildlife Program stands for Friends of Critters, Friends of Carers and also Free of Charge. If you have the time to extend your visit to Tasmania, you should consider becoming a participant. 

 

Goway Travel in the early years, used the above image of the Tasmanian Devil to tempt travellers (note the apple) to visit Tasmania, Australia's stunning Island state. F.Y.I. a lot of Australian's believe most world maps are printed upside down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boxing Kangaroo Flag, The Aussies are here.

The Aussie team arrived at the Athlete's village last week, and immediately made their presence known.

The Boxing Kangaroo is the symbol of the Australian Olypmpic Committee.  And has been known for decades as the sporting flag of Australia.  It was first used when we won the America's Cup in 1983.

Dave Qualley

The story goes that the IOC ordered the Aussies to take the flag down. The Aussies refused. The City of Surrey offered to fly it, it's been all over the media and twitter and facebook.  Finally yesterday the IOC backed down, the Aussies agreeed to register it as a team symbol and the Boxing Kangaroo will continue to fly.

Flooding in Duncan

Taking a break from the Olympics....10 years ago next week Hubby and I were married in Duncan.  Many of you joined us there.  A month ago we went to the Torch Relay celebration in Duncan. In a month we will be there for Christmas.

Today after weeks of heavy rain, two rivers burst their banks and flooded Duncan.  A local state of emergency has been called and families have been evacuated from their homes.

Barb and Stew's house is okay.  Others are not.  Bob's house flooded (not in photo below).

 

image Cowichan Valley Citizen

Here's hoping everyone is okay.  Love and hugs to all.

Women's ski jumping - no go for 2010

From CTV Olympics, read the article here

Read VANOC's statement here

Bear Bells, who knew?

If you've been to any skiing events in Europe you've probably heard the clang of hundreds of cow bells. Originally used to help farmers find their animals now it's used to cheer on athletes. I have one from the 1994 Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer.

And you've no doubt seen the Saturday Night Live skit with Christopher Walken, More Cowbell. If you haven't, you should.  Nothing to do with the Olympics, but it's funny.

There are Vancouver 2010 cow bells available.

 

Last week the North Vancouver's Spirit of BC Committee and the Squamish First Nation unveiled the North Shore celebration bear bells. They want to encourage locals to purchase the bear bells and use them to make noise and cheer on their favourite athletes. Why bear bells?  Because bear bells are commonly used here when hiking.  The theory is the noise keeps the bears away.  I don't know about that.

What the Squamish First Nation and Spirit of BC Committee didn't realise is that there is already a Vancouver 2010 licensee that has the license for bear bells.

 

Who knew bear bells would be a newsworthy.  You can read more about it here.

The Cowichan sweaters didn't surprise me, but bear bells.

 

There's been all sorts of press about the HBC knit sweater and the Cowichan sweaters.  But it looks like a resolution has been reached.