A new fencing program has been rolled out in a bid to prevent Tasmanian devils ending up as roadkill, after it was revealed almost 40 per cent of the newly-released animals have been run over since late last year.

Key points: Fencing will create 64ha of protected land to help released devils establish lives in the wild

Fencing will create 64ha of protected land to help released devils establish lives in the wild New fencing system will be ready in August

New fencing system will be ready in August Environment minister says the "devil cannot go the way of the tiger"

Since November 56 devils have been released into the wild but so far 22 have been killed by vehicles.

The fencing will create about 64 hectares of protected area for the devils to transition into the wild, and devils will stay within the boundaries until they feel at home in the bush.

University of Sydney scientist Bruce Englefield said the new fences would help devils gradually adapt to their environment, rather than having them running straight towards civilisation.

"We need to make sure that when they're released, they understand the area that they're going in for their behaviour," he said.

"We need them to avoid people, we need them to avoid cars.

"By having them in captivity and safe, for a period of time ... the longer we keep them in there the more they get used to the area that they're going to be roaming when they get let go into the wild."

The new fencing system will be ready by August, in time to help any devils released over summer.

The devil cannot go the way of the tiger: Hunt

Scientists hope the released devils will help bolster numbers in the wild. ( Supplied: Department of Environment )

The Federal Government is funding $500,000 of the $800,000 program, although questions were raised about the timing of the announcement, considering the money was first promised before the 2013 election.

Environment minister Greg Hunt said the program was progressing as planned.

"This is a decision of Government and we've been progressively rolling it out, and as the projects have been ready to complete we've embarked upon and supported that," he said.

Devils which have been held in captivity are more vulnerable around roadways. ( Supplied: Environment Department )

"On our watch, on our time it's our responsibility to make sure that it [Tasmanian devil] has a future.

"The devil cannot go the way of the tiger."

The species low genetic diversity currently makes devils more vulnerable.

Mr Englefield said the recent discovery of a genetically-diverse population in the state's south west could help ensure the devils' survival in the wild.

"Of course you can also then cross breed with east coast devils, west coast devils, to keep that gene pool as big as possible," he said.