It seems the Tasmanian Devils could soon be facing extinction. According to Science Daily the species has a unique transmissible and rapidly spreading cancer.
Research has revealed that the cancer is transmitted from one devil to another when tumour cells are transplanted through fighting, biting, and other physical contact. Once afflicted with the cancer, aggressive tumours begin to appear on the face and neck of the devils, restricting their ability to eat. Within approximately three months, the devils succumb to the disease and often die of starvation. The disease has decimated the devil population by nearly 90 percent in certain geographical areas of Tasmania, and officials project that within twenty years the entire species could become extinct.
I was pleased to also read that after much lobbying from the Tasmanian state government in Australia, Warner Bros. decided to assist the fight against extinction. The deal with Warner Bros. allows the Tasmanian Government to manufacture and sell up to 5000 special edition Taz plush toys with all profit going towards funding scientific research into the Devil Facial Tumour Disease.
Lets hope something can be done about this !
- Kyle