Tasmanian devil endangered
2008-05-21 11:00
Hobart - The Tasmanian devil was listed as an endangered animal in its home state on Wednesday because of a deadly, contagious cancer that has cut its population by up to 60%.
The government in the Australian state of Tasmania - the only place in the world where the carnivorous marsupials exist in the wild - said it is determined to save the animal from extinction.
"We are committed to finding an answer and saving the Tasmanian devil for Tasmanians and the world," state Primary Industries Minister David Llewellyn said in a statement.
The grotesque facial tumours were first spotted in the devil population about a decade ago. The fast-growing cancer, spread through biting, spreads over the marsupial's face and mouth and prevents it from eating, often killing it within months.
Scientists have estimated that the wild devil population has fallen from about 140 000 in the 1990s to 80 000 in 2006 - the latest year statistic were available - due to the spread of the tumours.
The disease has spread so quickly that scientists last year estimated that within five years, there will be no disease-free population in Tasmania.
The state's reclassification of the devil from vulnerable to endangered status qualifies it for greater government conservation assistance.
The federal government will now be under pressure to upgrade the devil on its national threatened species listing.
In last week's national budget, the federal government earmarked A$10m for the fight to save the Tasmanian devil by establishing a healthy "insurance" population.
The devil's cause
A number of isolated disease-free communities of devils have been established in Tasmania and in mainland Australia to breed populations as "insurance" against extinction.
Hamish McCallum, a wildlife research professor with the University of Tasmania, says the change in listing is not a surprise, but may help the devil's cause.
"My big hope, I guess, is that the recognition of the extent of the threat will lead to greater funding from governments but also from private individuals or from corporates," he told Australia Broadcasting Corp radio.
Wildlife and disease experts are working with state and commonwealth governments to combat the disease.
Scientists last year discovered that that disease originated from a single cell line that was spread through the population by biting.
Early European settlers named the feisty marsupial the devil for its spine-chilling screeches, dark appearance and reputed bad temper which, along with its steel-trap jaw, made it appear incredibly fierce.
- AP