Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Tasmanian Devil Decline



Facial cancer is killing the Tasmanian Devil population. Why? Well it seems that there is a lack of genetic diversity in these creatures so the animal's immune system does not try to fight off the disease. In Tasmania 90% of the population has died of the disease. They think that the disease is spread by biting during fights for food or mates. Scientists are trying to save the animals by relocating breeding pairs to sanctuaries on islands.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think that they should make more wildlife reserves so they don't have the risk of spreading the dieses.

by Seth Terwelp

Shaun Carey said...

Seth,

Good idea. I wonder how much a wildlife reserve would cost to maintain?

Anonymous said...

Mr.Carey


The security letters are working. I can finally blog you every single minute now. OOOO my gosh!!!!!!


Kaleen Lay

Anonymous said...

Do you think that the animals on the blog will survive?


by: Monte Wietholder

Shaun Carey said...

Monte,

I don't know if we have reached them in time. With some luck I think they will.

Anonymous said...

lWhy would they want to move them to difrent islands? They could try to come up with a vaccine instead of resorting to that. Well if they are moving them why not put them in zoo's?




By:Alex Zanger

Anonymous said...

I think we to make more reserves for these animals. They should not become extint just because a disease. I hope they will survive.


T.J. Klitz

Anonymous said...

Mr.Carey
My brother who is in 4th grade loves Tasmanian Devils. He has so much info. on them. When he saw me reading the article. He had to read about it.
Kaleen Lay

Anonymous said...

I think people should relocate the devils to a different country




by Monte Wietholder