'Looney Tunes to the rescue'
2007-05-28 10:27
Sydney - Entertainment giant Warner Bros has agreed to enlist its Looney Tunes cartoon characters in a campaign to save the real-life Tasmanian devil from extinction, reports have said.
The Warner Bros character Taz, the Tasmanian devil, has long been part of the Looney Tunes cast alongside Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and the Road Runner.
But the real Tasmanian devil, a carnivorous marsupial that lives on Australia's island state, faces extinction from a mutant cancer which causes facial tumours and has already wiped out much of the devil population.
In response, Warner Bros and Tourism Tasmania are launching a campaign called "Looney Tunes to the Rescue" to help raise funds for research attempting to save the devils, Australian Associated Press reported.
The report said Warner Bros would release 20 cartoon specials on DVD in Australia featuring the Looney Tunes gang coming to the aid of their friend Taz.
Tasmanian Environment Minister Paula Wriedt said part of the proceeds would go to the Tasmanian Devil Appeal.
"This partnership will go a long way to assist in raising funds, awareness and future opportunities to ensure the survival of the Tasmanian devil," Wriedt said.
"Tasmanians are faced with an enormous challenge to save one of our most precious icons."
The devils, the size of a small dog, are unique to Tasmania and scientists fear the cancerous disease discovered in 1996 could make them extinct within a decade from now.
Early European settlers named the feisty marsupial the devil for its spine-chilling screeches, dark appearance and reputed bad temper which, along with its steeltrap jaw, made it appear incredibly fierce.