Tasmanian Devils are the largest carnivorous marsupials in the world today; they’re the size of a small dog, weighing 4kg to 14kg, and standing about 30cm tall.
The population has suffered recent, rapid declines, and they’re currently listed as Endangered – at high risk of extinction in the wild
In the 1800s there was a concerted effort by Tasmanian farmers to eradicate the species, which were thought to kill livestock.
Threats
Devils are now a protected species, but their survival is threatened by something far more insidious.
Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) is a contagious disease discovered in the mid-1990s. Lumpy tumours form around the head and neck, growing rapidly so that the animal finds it hard to eat. An individual can die of starvation within six months of symptoms showing.
Tens of thousands of Tasmanian Devils have died from DFTD, and it’s this ongoing outbreak that has caused species to be classified as Endangered under Australian and Tasmanian legislation.
Continued Habitat loss is a constant threat to their survival.
Size:
Tiny Toy 23cm
Small Puppet 33cm
Large Puppet 42cm
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