Floods threaten vital Tasmanian devil breeding program

The Advertiser

23-05-2025

Catastrophic flooding at a wildlife sanctuary home to one of Australia's largest breeding programs for Tasmanian devils has prompted the mass evacuation of the endangered animals.
Aussie Ark, west of Taree in northeastern NSW, was hit was a torrential 400mm of rain in just three days.
The downpour led to "catastrophic flooding" and caused extensive damage to wildlife fencing and infrastructure, the centre said.
An emergency response is under way with animals moved to safety, food drops co-ordinated to overcome supply shortages, and additional people sent to help.
"The flooding has devastated the sanctuary's infrastructure, inundating enclosures, washing out access roads, and causing widespread damage to critical fencing that keeps endangered wildlife safe," Aussie Ark told AAP on Friday.
As water levels rise, a team of workers is ensuring the marsupials - as well as various other native Australian animals - are dry and secure.
Aussie Ark president Tim Faulkner waded through the floodwaters to rescue the sodden animals, relocating them to a new enclosure while their current habitat is repaired.
"Our teams are working day in and day out, mending fences and repairing damage, only for the relentless rain to knock everything over again," Mr Faulkner said.
"It's a constant battle, but we are determined to keep going and protect every single animal in our care."
As the scale of the damage is assessed, the sanctuary has launched a flood appeal to assist with recovery and critical repair work.
If it is safe to do so, any animals found injured, in distress, disoriented or heavily waterlogged should be contained in a clean, covered box in a dark, quiet place before it is able to be taken to a wildlife carer or vet.
"Do not put yourself or others in danger attempting to rescue wildlife," a spokesperson from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water told AAP.
"The safest thing to do is record details, precise location, time, a photo (if possible) and report to your local wildlife rehabilitation group and if possible monitor the animal."
Deadly flooding continues to pose danger for communities across Australia's most populous state.
The state emergency service has conducted 736 flood rescues and more than 50,000 people along the NSW mid-north coast remain cut off by floodwaters.
Catastrophic flooding at a wildlife sanctuary home to one of Australia's largest breeding programs for Tasmanian devils has prompted the mass evacuation of the endangered animals.
Aussie Ark, west of Taree in northeastern NSW, was hit was a torrential 400mm of rain in just three days.
The downpour led to "catastrophic flooding" and caused extensive damage to wildlife fencing and infrastructure, the centre said.
An emergency response is under way with animals moved to safety, food drops co-ordinated to overcome supply shortages, and additional people sent to help.
"The flooding has devastated the sanctuary's infrastructure, inundating enclosures, washing out access roads, and causing widespread damage to critical fencing that keeps endangered wildlife safe," Aussie Ark told AAP on Friday.
As water levels rise, a team of workers is ensuring the marsupials - as well as various other native Australian animals - are dry and secure.
Aussie Ark president Tim Faulkner waded through the floodwaters to rescue the sodden animals, relocating them to a new enclosure while their current habitat is repaired.
"Our teams are working day in and day out, mending fences and repairing damage, only for the relentless rain to knock everything over again," Mr Faulkner said.
"It's a constant battle, but we are determined to keep going and protect every single animal in our care."
As the scale of the damage is assessed, the sanctuary has launched a flood appeal to assist with recovery and critical repair work.
If it is safe to do so, any animals found injured, in distress, disoriented or heavily waterlogged should be contained in a clean, covered box in a dark, quiet place before it is able to be taken to a wildlife carer or vet.
"Do not put yourself or others in danger attempting to rescue wildlife," a spokesperson from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water told AAP.
"The safest thing to do is record details, precise location, time, a photo (if possible) and report to your local wildlife rehabilitation group and if possible monitor the animal."
Deadly flooding continues to pose danger for communities across Australia's most populous state.
The state emergency service has conducted 736 flood rescues and more than 50,000 people along the NSW mid-north coast remain cut off by floodwaters.
Catastrophic flooding at a wildlife sanctuary home to one of Australia's largest breeding programs for Tasmanian devils has prompted the mass evacuation of the endangered animals.
Aussie Ark, west of Taree in northeastern NSW, was hit was a torrential 400mm of rain in just three days.
The downpour led to "catastrophic flooding" and caused extensive damage to wildlife fencing and infrastructure, the centre said.
An emergency response is under way with animals moved to safety, food drops co-ordinated to overcome supply shortages, and additional people sent to help.
"The flooding has devastated the sanctuary's infrastructure, inundating enclosures, washing out access roads, and causing widespread damage to critical fencing that keeps endangered wildlife safe," Aussie Ark told AAP on Friday.
As water levels rise, a team of workers is ensuring the marsupials - as well as various other native Australian animals - are dry and secure.
Aussie Ark president Tim Faulkner waded through the floodwaters to rescue the sodden animals, relocating them to a new enclosure while their current habitat is repaired.
"Our teams are working day in and day out, mending fences and repairing damage, only for the relentless rain to knock everything over again," Mr Faulkner said.
"It's a constant battle, but we are determined to keep going and protect every single animal in our care."
As the scale of the damage is assessed, the sanctuary has launched a flood appeal to assist with recovery and critical repair work.
If it is safe to do so, any animals found injured, in distress, disoriented or heavily waterlogged should be contained in a clean, covered box in a dark, quiet place before it is able to be taken to a wildlife carer or vet.
"Do not put yourself or others in danger attempting to rescue wildlife," a spokesperson from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water told AAP.
"The safest thing to do is record details, precise location, time, a photo (if possible) and report to your local wildlife rehabilitation group and if possible monitor the animal."
Deadly flooding continues to pose danger for communities across Australia's most populous state.
The state emergency service has conducted 736 flood rescues and more than 50,000 people along the NSW mid-north coast remain cut off by floodwaters.
Catastrophic flooding at a wildlife sanctuary home to one of Australia's largest breeding programs for Tasmanian devils has prompted the mass evacuation of the endangered animals.
Aussie Ark, west of Taree in northeastern NSW, was hit was a torrential 400mm of rain in just three days.
The downpour led to "catastrophic flooding" and caused extensive damage to wildlife fencing and infrastructure, the centre said.
An emergency response is under way with animals moved to safety, food drops co-ordinated to overcome supply shortages, and additional people sent to help.
"The flooding has devastated the sanctuary's infrastructure, inundating enclosures, washing out access roads, and causing widespread damage to critical fencing that keeps endangered wildlife safe," Aussie Ark told AAP on Friday.
As water levels rise, a team of workers is ensuring the marsupials - as well as various other native Australian animals - are dry and secure.
Aussie Ark president Tim Faulkner waded through the floodwaters to rescue the sodden animals, relocating them to a new enclosure while their current habitat is repaired.
"Our teams are working day in and day out, mending fences and repairing damage, only for the relentless rain to knock everything over again," Mr Faulkner said.
"It's a constant battle, but we are determined to keep going and protect every single animal in our care."
As the scale of the damage is assessed, the sanctuary has launched a flood appeal to assist with recovery and critical repair work.
If it is safe to do so, any animals found injured, in distress, disoriented or heavily waterlogged should be contained in a clean, covered box in a dark, quiet place before it is able to be taken to a wildlife carer or vet.
"Do not put yourself or others in danger attempting to rescue wildlife," a spokesperson from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water told AAP.
"The safest thing to do is record details, precise location, time, a photo (if possible) and report to your local wildlife rehabilitation group and if possible monitor the animal."
Deadly flooding continues to pose danger for communities across Australia's most populous state.
The state emergency service has conducted 736 flood rescues and more than 50,000 people along the NSW mid-north coast remain cut off by floodwaters.