Graham PalmerFeb 24, 2023
Rare birds are a winner on Mastodon - so let's see how a rare animal goes. Tasmanian Devils (Sarcophilus) are known for their ferocity - so this one is sitting up and showing how cute they are!
#Photography #NaturePhotography #ThreatenedAnimal #RareAnimal #TasmanianDevil #HealesvilleSanctuary #CaptiveBreeding #Victoria #Australia #CuteDevil #AnimalsOfMastodon
Show threadChris Owens
@gpnaturephotos @sarahdalgulls Love them. They need all the support they can get because of Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). Just a warning before googling that: it’s a very distressing disease. It’s wiping out 90-100% of populations.
Feb 24, 2023 at 9:23amWeb
Show threadIanMoore3000Feb 25, 2023
@likesohushhush @gpnaturephotos @sarahdalgulls I was wondering how that is going. Ironically it is their fierceness and tendency to bite each other's faces that is spreading the disease
Show threadChris OwensFeb 25, 2023
@IanMoore3000 @gpnaturephotos @sarahdalgulls I’ve been Googling round it, and there doesn’t appear to be much progress against it, that I can see. Research continues. This story from last year ( https://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/article/research-devil-facial-tumor-disease ) is hopeful about a vaccine, but that’s been said before. I might ask around.
Devil Facial Tumor Disease – a Devastating Cancer in the Iconic Tasmanian Devil

May 26, 2022 — Learn more from Foundation-funded researcher Andy Flies about this deadly disease of Tasmanian devils and how researchers are finding ways to save them from extinction.

Show threadIanMoore3000Feb 25, 2023
@likesohushhush @gpnaturephotos @sarahdalgulls I remember years ago there was a lot of hope about a Tasmanian Devil with the great name of Cedric, who seemed to be immune to the disease, but then he caught it.
Show threadGraham PalmerFeb 25, 2023
@IanMoore3000 @likesohushhush @sarahdalgulls Don’t recall Cedric - but there are 3 disease free colonies started by conservation schemes. Maria Island is well known, but Healesville Sanctuary has a thriving group in the Corranderk Aboriginal reserve next door, and I believe Tooronga Zoo has another wild group.
Show threadGraham PalmerFeb 25, 2023
@likesohushhush @IanMoore3000 @sarahdalgulls No news on a vaccine yet, but the colony on Maria Island is doing well, with no sign of disease - although they have wiped out a lot of the other wildlife!
Show threadChris OwensFeb 25, 2023
@gpnaturephotos @IanMoore3000 @sarahdalgulls Thanks!