Bad news for Tasmanian Devils

paul m · #1 (**permalink**) 16-07-2008, 09:08 AM

This sounds really serious - very sad if so ....
BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Tumours 'alter devils' sex lives'

ozwildlife · #2 (**permalink**) 18-07-2008, 09:33 AM

Unfortunately it is bad news. There is a good web site set up by the Tasmanian Government and University of Tasmania that explains the disease and what is being done about it. The story of "Cedric" near the foot of the page is encouraging.
... Just a word of warning ... the page shows a couple of images of animals with the disease.

Tasmanian devil facial tumour disease : Save the Tasmanian devil

Silvershark · #3 (**permalink**) 29-07-2008, 02:30 PM

Hopefully a disease-free population will be created elsewhere so that should they be wiped out there will be disease-free animals to return to the island once the danger is over. The devils have started breeding earlier now as a response to the infection but that isn't likely to help in the long run.

tcvarlh · #4 (**permalink**) 06-01-2009, 11:30 PM

Yes I saw a tv prog about this then went net to read more. Incredible, a transmittable cancer. Horrific. Tas's are not the most lovable of furries but that disease is a real monster. Hopefully the small chance of Cedric's genes doing some good will pan out. Xfingers
h

paul m · #5 (**permalink**) 09-01-2009, 02:35 PM

There is a cunning plan to separate infected and uninfected populations with a big fence ....
BBC NEWS | World | Asia-Pacific | Fence hope for Tasmanian Devils
Let's be hopeful but I have my doubts ....

tcvarlh · #6 (**permalink**) 09-01-2009, 11:15 PM

bugger, I had my fingers crossed. I wondered if they could transport the healthy Tas's to a separate island, but I suppose that would shrink the gene pool even further.

paul m · #7 (**permalink**) 13-01-2009, 09:59 AM

One lost marsupial, the thylacine, is a candidate for resurrection. They call it a 'tassie tiger' here but I've never heard that - a marsupial wolf, perhaps ....

They've reconstructed its genome and, although finally it was hunting that made it extinct they believe that it was already approaching very low genetic diversity so might have faded out anyway.

BBC NEWS | Science & Environment | Genetic secrets from Tassie tiger

If so, it was very much like the cheetah which has lost much of its genetic diversity: Cheetah Conservation Fund

paul m · #8 (**permalink**) 04-01-2010, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcvarlh

bugger, I had my fingers crossed. I wondered if they could transport the healthy Tas's to a separate island, but I suppose that would shrink the gene pool even further.

Well, they're finding out more all the time ... but nothing too optimistic yet ....
BBC News - Tasmanian devil facial cancer origins 'identified'