The Tasmanian Devil could soon become extinct, just like the Tasmanian Tiger. An infectious cancer has reduced their numbers to almost zero. It's a cruel disease, slowly developing into large tumours on the face and neck which makes it difficult for the animal to eat and they die a slow death from starvation within 3 months.
The Tasmanian Devil was named by the early European settlers, who were haunted at night by the sound of its spine-chilling screeches and demonic growls.
They eat any meat that is available, this includes insects, birds and beached fish. But their favourites are possums, wallabies and wombats.
Not a pretty or cute animal, it has the most ungainly gait when it moves, its back end looks almost deformed. Steps are being taken to ensure that the Devil doesn't follow the Tasmanian Tiger into extinction.
You can see the Devil at East Coast Nature World, Bicheno.
mum that thing is scary, its ugly.
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