A couple of pictures of "Miranda" a Tasmanian Devil involved with the "Save the Devil" project here in Tasmania. The wild population is being decimated by a "facial tumour" disease which scientists believe is the only form of contagious cancer known. As such tumour free populations are being place in disease free areas of the state as the research carries on, it appears that some headway is being made so all hope is not lost. The "Devil" got it's name from the early settlers due to them seeing shadows in the darkness and them hearing the blood curdling screams they make whilst feeding,
They are the worlds largest carnivorous marsupial, having a rear facing pouch with only four teats. The female devil produces up to 20 embryonic offspring but only the first four to reach the teats survive. The devil is one of the main reasons Tasmania remains free of the introduced European Fox despite several attempts to establish them in the early years of the colony, the devils would enter the fox den and devour the cubs.
