When did the Tasmanian Devil become endangered?

Answer 1

The Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) was hunted almost to extinction due to its threat to livestock such as sheep and poultry. They were protected by law before it was too late in June 1941 from where their numbers recovered sufficiently for them to be classified as "secure". During the 1990s, they were listed as "vulnerable". More recently, they are threatened by a fatal form of cancer called "Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD)" which has killed more than 90% of adults in high density areas and 45% of adults in medium to low density areas. The Threatened Species Scientific Advisory Committee recommended moving the Tasmanian Devil up the "Endangered Species" list. It was officially listed as "endangered" in May 2008. A number of groups have combined to fund, study, analyse and come up with a cure for DFTD. You can find out more about it or assist by going to the attached Web Page and selecting one of the options.

Answer 2

The Tasmanian Devil is not extinct, but it is in trouble. From about 1996, the Tasmanian Devil has been threatened by a fatal form of cancer called "Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD)" which has killed more than 90% of adults in high density areas and 45% of adults in medium to low density areas resulting in an "Endangered" classification. Since then, the Threatened Species Scientific Advisory Committee has recommended moving the Tasmanian Devil up the "Endangered Species" list. A number of groups have combined to fund, study, analyse and come up with a cure for DFTD. You can find out more about it or assist by going to the attached Web Page and selecting one of the options.

Answer 3

Yes, Tasmanian Devils are endangered.

Fossil evidence shows that Tasmanian Devils used to be found everywhere on the Australian mainland, as well as Tasmania, but this animal is now restricted to limited parts of the island of Tasmania. It is believed that the arrival of the dingo may have caused their extinction on the mainland, most likely because they would have competed for the same food. The dingo is a larger, faster animals, and better able to survive in a variety of habitats. However, climate change is also thought to have played a role in the extinction of the Tasmanian devil from the mainland.

The Tasmanian Devil is endangered in Tasmania for several reasons. Early settlers killed the creature at every opportunity, fearing it posed a threat to their poultry and livestock.

Land clearing and habitat loss, due to forestry, has not only destroyed where the Tasmanian Devil lives, but also removed its food source as other animals are driven away. As a result, Tasmanian Devils are often hit by cars as they feed on other road-killed animals.

Prior to early 2008, the Tasmanian Devil was classified as "vulnerable" in Tasmania also. The change has occurred due to "devil facial tumor disease", which has infected 60% of the island of Tasmania, resulting in the Tasmanian Devil being classified as endangered. Devil Facial Tumour Disease is a relatively new disease which threatens the survival of this marsupial. The disease spreads through biting - and this is very common in Devils as they are natural fighters, battling tooth and claw for every morsel of food. Only the western third of Tasmania is currently free of the disease.

This disease, a form of contagious cancer, first became apparent in 1996. In the mid-1990s, Tasmanian Devil numbers were around 150,000. Now, sightings have dropped by 64%, and numbers are estimated to be between 15,000 and 50,000, with no real way of knowing actual figures.

As the Devil numbers decrease, fox numbers are increasing. Although no match for a healthy, mature Tasmanian Devil, introduced foxes hunt young Tasmanian Devils.

The conservation status of the Tasmanian Devil in 2009 is listed as "vulnerable" nationally under the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

In Tasmania, it is "endangered" under the Threatened Species Protection Act 1995.

Internationally, it is listed as "endangered" on the 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Answer 4

There are a number of reasons why the Tasmanian Devil is endangered. One of the problems stems from the fact that numbers diminished when farmers in Tasmania believed that it was a threat to their livestock and poultry, and used to hunt it. (This is also why the Thylacine, or Tasmanian tiger died out.) The resultant smaller population had less genetic delivers ity, which is one of the reasons it is vulnerable to Devil facial Tumour Disease.

Devil Facial Tumour Disease is rife at present and is another reason for keeping them in captivity. DFTD causes facial lesions which increase in size until the Tasmanian devil can no longer eat, and becomes susceptible to infections. DFTD has killed more than 90% of adults in high density areas and 45% of adults in medium to low density areas. At present, no Devils are being taken into captivity with existing captive animals in the hope that the current captive ones will be kept safe from the spread of this disease. The disease spreads through biting - and this is very common in Devils as they are natural fighters, battling tooth and claw for every morsel of food. Only the western third of Tasmania is currently free of the disease. 60% of the state is affected.

Currently there is no cure for the disease, and scientists estimate that unless the disease can be stopped in some way, Tasmanian Devils will be extinct within two decades. The Devils seem to be particularly vulnerable to this because of their genetic makeup: they have particularly low levels of genetic diversity and a chromosomal mutation which is unique among carnivorous mammals. It is hoped that, by studying this genetic makeup, scientists will be able to develop a vaccine and/or cure.

In January 2010, scientists isolated the genetic marker for the disease, and this is a big step towards finding a cure. Also, scientists have recently reported promising results in cancer cures from a drug manufactured from a certain type of brushwood in the North Queensland tropical rainforests. This has worked successfully in trials on cancerous tumours in cats, dogs and horses, and as well as being hoped to be a potential cure in human cancers, it is also hoped to be able to be used against DFTD. A number of groups have combined to fund, study, analyse and come up with a cure for DFTD. You can find out more about it or assist by going to the attached Web Page and selecting one of the options.

As the Devil numbers decrease, fox numbers are increasing. These introduced animals hunt and eat young Devils, and if the Devil numbers drop too low then there is little hope that the population will ever recover - those remaining will be destroyed by the foxes.

Another reason is that they are often hit by cars as they feed on other road-killed animals. Some of the Tasmanian devils have been placed in protective captivity so humans and/or other animals cannot kill or hurt them.

Answer 5

The Tasmanian devil is not extinct. In 2008, its conservation status was moved to "Endangered".

The Tasmanian devil should not be confused with the Thylacine, also known variously as the Tasmanian tiger or Tasmanian wolf. The last known specimen of the Thylacine died in 1936, and it was added to the "extinct species" list in 1963.

Answer 6

There are some threats to the Tasmanian devil's habitat. The Tasmanian devil's habitat is eucalypt forest, woodlands, heath and even farmland (due to land clearing). Its habitat is under some threat from land clearing and logging.

Answer 7

In 2013, the status of the Tasmanian devil is Endangered, with a population trend that is declining.

Answer 8

DFTD, or Devil Facial Tumour Disease, was first observed in 1996. It is not known exactly when it started.