DRIVERS URGED TO LOOK OUT FOR TASMANIAN DEVILS

The Tasmanian Government is pleading with drivers to be on the lookout for Tasmanian Devils, after four of the animals were killed by vehicles on the road.

It comes just eight days after 39 devils were released into a quarantined peninsula in the state’s southeast, which is free from the deadly facial tumour disease.

Of those, 22 devils had been transported from Devil Ark in the Hunter Valley.

“The Tasmanian devil is already under threat from facial tumour disease, the last thing we need to do is put further strain on this iconic Tasmanian species through avoidable deaths on our roads,” said Environment Minister Matthew Groom.

“If you’re driving between dusk and dawn, slow down. If you see a devil, slow down.”

Despite the deaths, researchers say the trials are showing encouraging results.