Tasmanian devils earned their name as they are only found in Tasmania and their fierce appearance accompanied by their characteristic screaming, was likened to a demon or devil.
They are scavengers and prefer to eat carrion (dead animals), rather than
hunt. They do occasionally attempt hunting, but due to their noisy nature, they
don't have much success.
Their jaws are so powerful that when consuming prey they eat every part of the animal including fur, feathers, bones and teeth.
Being a marsupial, the Tasmanian devil has a pouch where its young undertake most of their development.
The female will give birth to 30 to 40 young at once. However, she only has four teats in her pouch.
This means that it is a fight for survival to reach the pouch and only two to four babies will be lucky enough to gain a teat.
The remainder are usually consumed by the mother as she cleans the birth area.
Although not officially listed as a threatened species, a terrible disease is ripping through the wild population.
In some areas, more than 80% of the population has been lost.
The disease is a cancer probably caused by a virus that has quickly spread through the species by continual contact and biting each other during food squabbles.
Horrific tumours develop, particularly around the face, with the animals suffering for several months before dying.
The
Tasmanian government is currently doing research and forming a recovery
plan. Lone Pine has a donation ‘wishing well"at the entrance for
anyone able to help the Tasmanian devil.
Tasmanian Devil
Fact Sheet
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