Sporty was named after one of Devil Ark’s project partners, the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia.

General manager Tim Faulkner said Sporty was a special animal.

“Not only is Sporty one of our most boisterous animals, he is such an important member of the Devil Ark family as he shows the success of sponsors supporting our initiative,” he said. 

“Organisations like Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (NSW) Inc ensure the continuation of our important work and give hope to the Tasmanian devil as a species.”

In its second year as a sponsor, the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (NSW) Inc’s had given Devil Ark $135,000 to assist in covering the costs related to the care of the Tasmanian devil population.

The organisation has also stepped up support in 2017, and now also give ‘on the ground’ support by volunteering for works at Devil Ark, to assist the not for profit in continued site improvements.”

Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (NSW) Inc executive director Diana Melham said: “What makes the partnership special is the important role both organisations plays in conservation.”

“Responsible wildlife management is all about protecting our environment and that includes the conservation of endangered wildlife, ecosystems, and biodiversity which the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (NSW) Inc is committed to,” she said.

“Any endangered species is really our collective responsibility in Australia. Having already lost the Tasmanian tiger, we at Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (NSW) Inc don’t want to see the Tasmanian devil face the same fate.”

Devil Ark is located at an altitude of 1,350m in the Barrington Tops.

The facility is characterised by rainforest and sub-alpine woodland, providing the perfect breeding environment for devils.

Devil Ark is a part of a national breeding program to save the species from extinction.

It remains the most successful captive breeding facility for the endangered Tasmanian devil on the mainland – starting out in 2011 with 44 founder animals, the facility now holds 52 per cent of the mainland insurance population being 154 animals.

Currently classified as endangered the Tasmanian devil is under threat from a transmissible called devil facial tumour disease (DFTD). 

In Tasmania, the disease has reduced the wild population to less than 90 per cent in some areas.

DFTD continues to menace the endangered Tasmanian devil population. With still no cure or vaccine in sight and a continuing population decline, insurance programs such as  Devil Ark continue to be the species’ best hope of long-term survival.