Save The Tasmanian Devil
The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is the world’s largest marsupial carnivore and can only be found on the island of Tasmania. Despite being a protected species since 1941, the devil was listed as ‘endangered to extinction’ in 2008. This is in large part due to a rapid decline in population since the 1990s caused by a fatal and infectious form of cancer called Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD).
In response to this devastating threat to the devil’s survival, Saffire sponsors the Menzie’s Institute for Medical Research, which had a breakthrough in 2022 with the development of a successful vaccine which they are working to distribute as an oral bait vaccine to devils living in the wild.
As part of the Tasmanian government’s Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, Saffire has created a one-hectare, free-range devil enclosure which provides a safe space for retired devils from the devil breeding program who have played their part in ensuring the survival of the species by passing on their genes to a protected insurance population.
The Saffire devil enclosure has the added benefit of allowing Saffire guests the incredible opportunity to see Tasmanian devils in a natural setting, and to contribute to the continuing effort to save this iconic species.
