Tasmanian Devils

? I love hearing good news like this. We have a rewilding area near us and I love it.

It is good they are healthy because a lot of them get a nasty virus and it has decimated the population in Tasmania. Wonder how they will cope with a warmer climate? Tasmania is quite cool.

nanna8

It is good they are healthy because a lot of them get a nasty virus and it has decimated the population in Tasmania. Wonder how they will cope with a warmer climate? Tasmania is quite cool.

Mainland Australia

Sorry - misread your post - d’uh
Apologies

Can't wait to go and visit as soon as we can- as we have wonderful cousins there. An added +

Fantastic! when my son was alive he absolutely loved TAZ the cartoon character and consequently the real Tasmanian Devils which bear no relationship to the cartoon. When my daughter visited Australia she bought him a toy modelling the real thing. My they look fierce!

Let's hope there are no bush fires !

Usually we get bushfires every year in different areas. Last year were the worst for a long time and hope this will be a better year.

Not good news for Koalas, if they do thrive, the outlook is not good, like myxamositis in rabbits maybe only a few will survive

Myxomatosis

We saw some in a sanctuary in Tasmania. Just as DGS and I were peering into their enclosure wondering where they were, one suddenly made their characteristic noise; it appeared just below us. It really made me jump!

The disease is a facial cancerous tumour, caused by biting as it is contagious, but if all the devils released are free from disease, they could well remain healthy.

What will their main prey be? Are they a keystone species? How will it affect the balance of nature in the area I wonder.

Small creatures like frogs, insects and some birds, I think.

I wonder if they can eat cane toads without coming to harm? That would be a huge bonus.

Like all carnivores they eat anything slower than they are, no Koalas on Tasmania, they climb trees too.

We used to see a lot more koalas in the past than we do now. Dogs get them and they get hit by cars,too. They make a funny noise at night.

I was watching a programme about Australia last night which said that they could become extinct in the next decade or so as the habitat they prefer is also the habitat that humans want to live in. And this programme was made before the recent devastating fires that killed many of them. I sometimes think that the only way this planet can survive is if humans become extinct.

Like all carnivores they eat anything slower than they are

Cane toads are poisonous so that could be very worrying if they ate them.

Unfortunately, they are one species which seem to be thriving in Australia - an introduced species like rabbits, camels, foxes, feral cats, rats, fire ants and many more. They are all a threat to the native species.

I dont think cane toads taste very nice so no risk there.