NeemsTasmanian Devil's Toughest Battle
October 3rd 2006 03:25
The Tassie Devil is truly an icon of not only Tasmania, but Australia. Like a lot of our Aussie wildlife, the Devil is unique in the fact it is the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world (a mammal that has a pouch and eats meat). The females have a backward opening pouch where the baby devils will spend about the first 4 months of their lives. Devils are robust, tough and very cool looking creatures. If you’ve ever seen them at feeding time at the local zoo, you’ll know to keep the hands well clear. They are very aggressive and like many carnivores, they approach each meal with zest, as if it could be their last!
It is not unusual to spot a Devil while driving the roads in Tasmania. They are commonly seen scavenging road-kill and often end up being a victim of the roads themselves. While on a motorcycle touring holiday in Tassie a few years ago I spotted a few dead Devils on the edges of roads, probably lingering just a fraction too long for a morsel of dead roo.
The biggest threat to Tasmanian Devils however is from a facial tumour disease. As the name suggests, the condition causes cancers to appear on the head, face and neck of the animal. These cancers develop into large tumours. Death usually results 6 months after the first lesions appear. The effect on the Tassie devil population has been horrendous in some parts of the state with up to 90 to 100% of devils being wiped out in some high density areas. The Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries and Water – Wildlife Management Branch is conducting the research into the disease to find out more about it. It is thought that the disease won’t lead to extinction of the Devil, but with the introduction of the fox to Tasmania, it may be difficult for numbers to re-establish again.
Here’s hoping we don’t lose another unique and wonderful animal, I’d much prefer to see them in the wild than on the screen as a crazy cartoon character (although Taz is a bit of a dude). MB
Photo courtesy of Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania
http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/wildlife/wildlife
It is not unusual to spot a Devil while driving the roads in Tasmania. They are commonly seen scavenging road-kill and often end up being a victim of the roads themselves. While on a motorcycle touring holiday in Tassie a few years ago I spotted a few dead Devils on the edges of roads, probably lingering just a fraction too long for a morsel of dead roo.
The biggest threat to Tasmanian Devils however is from a facial tumour disease. As the name suggests, the condition causes cancers to appear on the head, face and neck of the animal. These cancers develop into large tumours. Death usually results 6 months after the first lesions appear. The effect on the Tassie devil population has been horrendous in some parts of the state with up to 90 to 100% of devils being wiped out in some high density areas. The Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries and Water – Wildlife Management Branch is conducting the research into the disease to find out more about it. It is thought that the disease won’t lead to extinction of the Devil, but with the introduction of the fox to Tasmania, it may be difficult for numbers to re-establish again.
Here’s hoping we don’t lose another unique and wonderful animal, I’d much prefer to see them in the wild than on the screen as a crazy cartoon character (although Taz is a bit of a dude). MB
Photo courtesy of Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania
http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/wildlife/wildlife
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