Endangered Species Alert: Tasmanian Devil May be Extinct in 20 Years

Tasmanian devils are suffering from an infectious cancer called devil facial tumor disease that may cause their extinction in 10 to 20 years. According to Jeremy Austin, an Australian zoologist:

We have lost over half our devils in the past 10 years, with an estimated population of 20,000 to 50,000 mature devils left. Extinction within the next 20 years is a real possibility unless we find a vaccine, eradicate the disease and establish captive colonies.

Tasmanian devils became extinct on the Australian mainland 400 years ago, and Tasmania tigers did not survive European colonization.

Tasmanian devils are coping with the infectious cancer by having sex at earlier ages. The fatal cancer strikes the devils at the age of two, which is their breeding age. The cancer is spread during fighting over food and mating. 

Via:  Center for Biological Diversity

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Posted by Jennifer Lance at December 11, 2008 1:53 AM