Tasmanian devil

The Tasmanian devil is a nocturnal species and the world's largest surviving carnivorous marsupial. The devil has a thick-set, squat build, with a relatively large, broad head and short, thick tail. Body size varies greatly, depending on the diet and habitat.

Adult males are usually larger than adult females. Large males can weigh up to 12kg, and stand about 30cm high at the shoulder.

Devils have at least 11 distinct vocalisations, including ‘snort’, ‘hump-growl’, ‘bark’, ‘clap’ (snapping of the jaws), ‘growl-whine’ ‘screech’ and ‘sneeze’. They also snore and sigh. Many vocalisations are bluff and part of a ritual to intimidate other devils to avert a fight when feeding communally at a large carcass.

Listed as endangered, they are threatened with extinction due to the deadly Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) - a devastating disease that emerged in 1996 and still has no cure.

Once widespread throughout Australia, devils are now only found in Tasmania.

The Tasmanian devils at Auckland Zoo came to be part of the Tasmanian Devil Ambassador Program - to raise awareness of their species and to be part of an insurance population.

Disease

Since emerging in 1996, the highly contagious cancer Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) has resulted in significant declines in Tasmanian devil numbers. Despite initial fears, extensive research and monitoring shows devils can persist in the wild with the disease. Modelling procured by the STDP shows that there is a low likelihood that devils will become extinct in the wild over the next 20 years.

Exciting progress on DFTD vaccine

As Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) remains the single greatest threat to devils, alleviating its impact would achieve the greatest turnaround for this iconic Endangered Australian species.

The University of Tasmania’s Menzies School of Medical Research, in collaboration with STDP, have been working for the past decade to develop a safe and effective vaccine.

Approvals for trials are still pending to develop a vaccine in the form of a meat based oral bait. Trials using a placebo bait have been successfully conducted on a safe and effective bait delivery system that can singularly target devils.

Programmes to help the Tasmanian devil

• The Tasmanian Devil Ambassador Program, established in 2013, is a collaboration between the Australian government and the Australasian Zoo Aquarium Association (ZAA) - which Auckland Zoo has participated in since 2014.
• Save The Tasmanian Devil Program (STDP), established in 2003 is the initiative of the Tasmanian government in response to the threat from DFTD. The vision of the STDP is a resilient wild devil population that needs limited management intervention.