17 October 08
The Australian Reptile Park is a major player in a combined Australian Zoos and wildlife parks co-ordinated campaign to establish an insurance breeding program for the iconic Tasmanian Devil.

The Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world and is found in the wild only in Tasmania. The size of a small dog, but stocky and muscular, the Tasmanian Devil is characterised by its black fur with white markings on the rump and chest.

Tasmanian (or Tassie) Devils hunt prey as well as eating carrion and are fierce when eating. They’re known for their extremely loud screech, hence their name ‘devils’.

The Tasmanian Devil has suffered significant population decline in recent years due to Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), an infectious cancer which is transmitted between individuals through biting.

The devastating disease is sweeping through Tasmania's devil population, killing more than 90% of adults in high density areas and 40-50% in medium-low density areas. Tasmanian Devils were declared as Endangered in May 2008.

The low genetic diversity in Tasmanian Devils has increased their susceptibility to this disease and animals usually die within months of contracting the disease. Average sightings of devils have declined by over 50% during the past 10 years and it’s estimated that Tasmanian Devils could go extinct within 25-30 years.

Australian zoos and wildlife parks are working together with the government of Tasmania to place disease-free devils into an ‘insurance breeding program’ that breeds healthy devils and maintains the maximum genetic-diversity of the species so that if the worst happens and the disease wipes them out in the wild, the zoos can repopulate devil habitat with disease-free animals in the future. This program and extensive research studies are all part of the Save The Tasmanian Devil Project (STTDP).

Other Devilish Facts:

• DFTD was first discovered in 1996 and now affects Devils in 59 per cent of Tasmania.

• Field monitoring indicates a 53 per cent decline in the wild devil population since the emergence of the disease.

• DFTD is transmissible within the species, and is contracted when an infected Tasmanian Devil bites another. Biting is a common behaviour among Devils especially during the mating season.

• Tumours appear within 3-12 months of a Devil contracting the disease.

• It is commonly thought that the low genetic variation among Devil populations has contributed to the spread of DFTD. The lack of genetic variation in the population means the cancer is not recognised as ‘foreign’ by the immune system of devils it is infecting.

• As a unique form of transmissible cancer, DFTD is the subject of several studies in Tasmania and America. Researchers hope to gain a greater understanding of other forms of cancer by studying the unique qualities of the disease in Devils.

• Devils for the insurance population are sourced from different areas of Tasmania to maximise genetic diversity for future captive breeding programs.

• The reduction in the Devil population is likely to upset the predatory hierarchy and impact on the wider Tasmanian ecosystem by giving other carnivores, such as foxes more opportunities to prey on native animal species.