Tasmanian devil

Tasmanian devils are remarkable creatures and iconic symbols of Tasmania, playing a vital role in maintaining the island’s ecosystem. Photo: Miroslav Bobek, Prague Zoo

In 1996, the infectious cancer began to spread across Tasmania and decimate the devils. It was named DFTD (Devil Facial Tumour Disease). Cancer cells are transferred from diseased to healthy devils through biting or consuming the same carcasses. Most animals die within six to twelve months. In some places, the Tasmanian devil population has dropped by 95 % in just 20 years!

So far, there is no cure for the disease. The threat of extinction is so serious that the struggle to rescue the devils even takes place at the government level. In 2003, the Australian and Tasmanian governments initiated the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, which aims to preserve a permanent and ecologically functional population of devils in the wild.

Individuals affected by Devil Facial Tumour Disease develop ulcerated lesions on the face and in the mouth, which interfere with feeding and other essential behaviours, eventually leading to death. Photo: Samantha Fox

As part of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, an insurance population of Tasmanian devils was established on Maria Island in 2012. Located approximately 4 km off the Tasmanian coast, the uninhabited island is renowned for its Painted Cliffs and is protected in its entirety as a national park. Tasmanian devils had never inhabited the island, meaning the contagious cancer had never reached it, and the insurance population has therefore remained free of the disease. In the future, this population is intended to serve as a safeguard against the species' extinction, while also providing healthy individuals for reintroduction to other parts of Tasmania.

Prague Zoo joined the Maria Island project by supporting not only the establishment of the insurance population, but also its ongoing monitoring and health management. In addition, we contributed to the fight against Tasmanian devil cancer by providing funding to the University of Tasmania for vaccine development. We also supported the Tasmanian devil breeding facility in Cressy, Tasmania.

To learn more about the devils and their protection, click here.

Supported programme and institution:

• Save the Tasmanian Devil Program – Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania
• University of Tasmania

Amount:

• AU$ 100,000 for monitoring and maintaining a healthy population on Maria Island, preserving genetic diversity, assessing ecological impacts, and sourcing healthy individuals for reintroductions to other parts of Tasmania
• AU$ 23,999 for the purchase of an off-road vehicle for the Cressy breeding facility
• AU$ 31,000 for the development of a vaccine against facial cancer

Further reading

• The Prague Devils help the Tasmanian devils
• Prague Zoo Introduces Its New Tasmanian Devils