Tasmanian Devils are the largest carnivorous marsupials in the world today. Devils once occurred on mainland Australia, but have been confined to Tasmania since pre-European times.
The survival of Tasmanian Devils is threatened by Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), and the species is now listed as Endangered. DFTD causes tumours around the mouth, face and neck of Devils. The disease develops rapidly and is fatal: affected animals die within six months of the lesions first appearing.
The ‘Save the Tasmanian Devil’ program was established to investigate the disease through population monitoring, disease diagnostics and wild population management.
As part of this program, Healesville Sanctuary is one of eighteen zoos taking Tasmanian Devils. If the catastrophic decline of this species continues, these captive populations could become an essential source of animals for reintroduction to the wild.
Well okay, so the red thing was just to throw us a curve?! Ha! I’m pretty sure we have a Tassie at the Dallas Zoo. I will go there when the weather cools off a bit!
Wow! Doing his full-on scary routine!! The San Diego zoo has one, and I spotted him briefly in his enclosure. They have a lovely area just dedicated to the Australian animals!
