Status of Tasmanian devils in the wild
The unfolding demise of the Tasmanian devil has exceeded ‘normal’ worst-case epidemics and continues to do so. Its status as an endangered species has been designated only recently: in Tasmanian legislation in 2008, and nationally and internationally in 2009.
The westward spread of DFTD
Within a decade of the detection of DFTD in the northeast of Tasmania, the devil population had decreased from 250,000 devils to 150,000 – a 40% drop. By late 2009 devil numbers had plummeted to 50,000 – a total drop of 80% – with no sign of the crash slowing down.
