A section of fencing designed to protect Tasmanian devils at Woolnorth has been destroyed overnight. The Circular Head Council has labelled the actions an "act of senseless vandalism" after discovering a number of newly installed guide posts had been ruined. Council staff began installing the posts along Woolnorth Road last week, with plans to attach virtual sensors this week. RELATED: Circular Head Council to focus on Tassie Devil safety amid rising deaths The sensors are designed to emit soundwaves when activated by car headlights, deterring animals from attempting to cross the road. "We are furious about what happened last night," Mayor Daryl Quilliam said. "Tasmanian devils have been in grave danger from the devil facial tumour disease for a long time now and their numbers are down throughout the State because of this. "This is one of the last remaining strongholds of healthy devils in Tasmania but they are suffering in this area through road-kill and we are trying to protect them." RELATED: Woolnorth devil death toll rises to 50 in six months, resident says He said the actions not only increased the project cost, but left Tasmanian devils vulnerable while the repairs were completed. "Whoever did this must be stopped and police are investigating," Cr Quilliam said. Greens Senator for Tasmania Peter Whish-Wilson agreed the act should be condemned. "We must not allow it to deter or slow our efforts to protect Tasmanian devils from becoming roadkill, especially not in one of the last remaining bastions for healthy devils in Tasmania," he said. READ MORE: Man fired for being 'too fat' for Strahan caravan park job "I expect the police to conduct a thorough investigation into this incident, and hope Circular Head Council will now put in place security measures - such as hidden cameras - to protect this critical mitigation project. "There are numerous factors threatening the Tasmanian devil's chance of survival, and what this frustrating event highlights very clearly is that our response to these threats must be diverse. "Increased signage, awareness/education campaigns, changes to speed limits, high density devil crossing mitigation measures, removal of roadkill, roadside mowing, and other measures must all be considered in the fight to protect the Tasmanian devil." If anyone has any information about this incident, please contact Tasmania Police on 131 444, or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
