Endangered Animal: Tasmanian Devil

 Tasmanian Devil

The Tasmanian Devil is not just a looney toons character. These fiesty animals have a coat of coarse brown or black fur and a stocky profile that gives them the appearance of a baby bear. Most have a white stripe or patch on their chest and light spots on their sides or rear end. They have long front legs and shorter rear legs, giving them a lumbering, piglike gait. They can reach up to 30 inches long and weigh around 26 pounds. The Tasmanian Devil species have plummeted from 140,000 to as few as 20,000 since the mid 1990s. 

Habitat and Range

Once abundant throughout Australia, Tasmanian devils are now found only on the island state of Tasmania. Their Tasmanian range encompasses the entire island, although they are partial to coastal scrublands and forests. Biologists speculate

 that their extinction on the mainland about 400 years ago may be linked to the introduction of Asian dogs—or dingoes.

Role in Ecosystem

Tasmanian Devils play an important role, by eating sick and dead animals. They also help to control feral cats in Tasmania and, by doing so, they help to protect some of our native species, particularly birds.

Cause of Decline

Tragically, though, a catastrophic illness discovered in the mid-1990s has killed tens of thousands of Tasmanian devils. Called devil facial tumor disease (DFTD), this rapidly spreading condition is a rare contagious cancer that causes large lumps to form around the animal's mouth and head, making it hard for it to eat. The animal eventually starves to death. As a result, Tasmania’s devil population has plummeted from 140,000 to as few as 20,000, and the species is now classified as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

Why Should We Care?

 If Tasmanian Devils go extinct, the foxes and feral cats population could explode, and dozens of mammals species – many which are unique to Tasmania – would be wiped out. In the end, all Tasmanian wildlife could suffer if the Tasmanian devils will cease to exist.

Current Conservation Efforts

The Tasmanian devil is a protected species in Australia. In 2003, the Tasmanian state government launched its Save the Tasmanian Devil Program as an official response to the threat of extinction posed by DFTD. This response includes sequestering populations where the disease has not yet appeared and focusing on captive breeding programs to save the species from extinction. Researchers have also been working to develop a vaccine for the disease.

Geospatial/Geography

The scientists at the Save the Devil Program have put out a call to citizen scientists to help track the progress of the disease, and the state of the devil population by reporting road kill sightings of Tassie Devils. There are thousands of printed forms asking for information on the exact location, and a dedicated telephone number for text messages and photo inputs. These forms are easy to keep in the car, and help travellers and residents to play a part in putting devil sightings on the map

Plea For Help!

1. If you are in an area where Tasmanian Devils are located, drive slowly and carefully at night when around wildlife
2. Donate if you can
3. Visit zoos that help support the work to fight extinction
4. Discover local conservation events 
5. Do your research and become more knowledgeable