Wildlife groups hope a generous landowner will donate between 300 and 500 hectares of suitable land to establish a devil population here and save the animals from extinction.

Tasmanian devils face serious decline from devil facial tumour disease, a highly aggressive and infectious cancer, which has swept across Tasmania and killed 100 per cent of affected

animals.

Director of the Australian Reptile Park John Weigel said to ensure the survival of the species a large-scale Tasmanian devil breeding complex needs to be developed on the mainland, possibly in the Walcha region.

He has received a great deal of support for scheme.

“The Devil Ranch proposal envisions a target population of 900 Tasmanian devils to be achieved within six to 10 years. The devils will be maintained in small groups, segregated in pens of up to 3ha each,” he said.

Mr Weigel is currently searching for a home for proposed breeding centre, and has visited the Walcha region twice in recent weeks while scouting for the ideal property - with a minimum area of 300-500ha.

“This region is ideal for building the breeding facility - the cold climate is ideal, and the soils are rich, so extensive revegetation can be accomplished if required. We are hopeful that a conservation-minded landowner can be found who might be willing to provide what may well be the most significant role of saving an iconic Australian species that has ever, or will ever be possible.”

Mr Weigel formed a partnership between the Save the Devil project and the Foundation for Australia’s Most Endangered Species (FAME). Additional funding has come from the NSW Government, and an application for substantial funding from the Australian Government is being prepared.

“We can cover most of the bases as required, but it is the land - and its likely cost, that remains the biggest unknown. There are far more affordable tracts of land in various parts of Australia, but they are not appropriate for the development for a range of reasons, including climate,” he said.