What is the Tasmanian Devil's population?

Answer 1

According to Australia's Department of Primary Industries, data from December 2006 gives an estimate of the Tasmanian Devil's population at only 20,000 - 50,000 mature Tasmanian Devils. However, it is very hard to accurately determine numbers. Sightings have dropped by around 64%. The best estimate is that numbers across Tasmania are somewhere between the range of 10,000 - 100,000, but it is feared the figures are on the lower end of the scale.

As of May 2009, the Tasmanian devil was listed as an "endangered" species. Figures from late 2009 indicate that, in recent decades, the Tasmanian Devil's population has dropped by 70% to an estimated 45,000 - 50,000 Tasmanian Devils in the wild.

There are three major problems the Tasmanian Devil faces:

• Devil Facial Tumour Disease
• Recent introduction of the red fox into Tasmania
• Roadkill - which accounts for an estimated 2000 deaths of Tasmanian Devils every year