Tasmanian devil listed as endangered

The Tasmanian devil has been listed an endangered species by Australia’s government because of a contagious cancer that has wiped out most of the wild population.

Environment Minister Peter Garrett said in a statement today that the upgrade from the “vulnerable” classification under Australian environmental law entitles the world’s largest marsupial carnivore to greater protection in the island state of Tasmania.

Devils do not exist in the wild outside Tasmania although mainland zoos are breeding captive populations as a strategy against total extinction.

Tasmanian devil numbers have declined by 70% since the mystery facial cancer was first reported in 1996. It is already listed as endangered in its home state.

The species was given international fame by the Looney Tunes cartoon character, Taz.