A group of 80 guides voted to swap their support to the struggling Tasmanian Devil after a democratic vote at the Western Plains Taronga Zoo.

The native species was chosen from a group of three, winning favour above the Black Rhino and the Galapagos Tortoise, Girl Guides Dubbo District Leader Lee Judd said.

“The girls voted overwhelmingly to support the Tasmanian Devil,” she said.

The girls also enjoyed an awards presentation while at the zoo being rewarded after completing challenges throughout their time with the guides.

“We had animal trivia, the girls had to run around the zoo and find information on different animals,” Ms Judd said. Money now raised for the Tasmanian Devil, stricken by an aggressive tumour disease, will stay at the Dubbo zoo to help the species, as it did to help the Malleefowl.

“Hopefully it won’t take 30 years to find a cure,” Ms Judd said.