Mrs. Cureton's classes learned from Science World Magazine that Tasmanian Devils are in danger of extinction, due to
Devil Facial Tumor Disease (DFTD). It is a contagious form of cancer that slowly kills Tasmanian Devils by starvation. Devils can catch the disease through saliva from an infected Tasmanian Devil. Because these animals are very aggressive, and fights are common, DFTD is sweeping through the population. A photo of a Devil with DFTD can be found
here. It's kind of graphic, so you may not want to check it out.
An attempt to save the Devils is being made through Devil Ark, a sanctuary and captive breeding program that hopes to reintroduce healthy Tasmanian Devils into the wild.
Some students wished they could have a Tasmanian Devil as a pet. This is illegal, because Tasmanian Devils are a protected species. They sure are cute, though. Don't you think?
Of course, once they grow up, and you see them in their natural habitat, you might change your mind. They're not called Tasmanian Angels, you know.
