Can the Tasmanian devil be saved?

Answer 1

Yes.

Scientists are breeding Tasmanian Devils in captivity to limit the spread of the Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). This disease is a great threat to Tasmanian devils living in the wild, affecting some two-thirds of the population.

The Australian Government now has initiatives and programs set up to preserve the species. Tasmanian devils are being housed in captive breeding programmes, which should prevent the extinction of the marsupial, but not necessarily in the wild. In November 2012, healthy, disease-free Tasmanian devils were released on an island off the coast of Tasmania, and these animals are already breeding, showing great promise for the future of the Tasmanian devil.

Regarding the progress of the disease itself, in January 2010, a team of international scientists pinpointed the genetic marker that predisposes Tasmanian devils towards this fatal disease. Further, cancer-curing properties of plants in northern rainforests of Australia show promise also. With this knowledge, there is now a better chance of a cure, which would also stop the disease decimating the wild Tasmanian devil population.