Tasmanian Devil

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Tasmanian Devil Trail

Quick Facts
Get to Know
Protecting Wildlife
Special Experiences
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Quick facts

Lifespan

5 years in the wild

Diet

Carrion & small animals

Habitat

Forests, shrublands

Range

Tasmania

The Tasmanian Devils

World’s largest carnivorous marsupial

The Tasmanian devil has held this title for over 80 years.

Prior to 1936, the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world was the thylacline, commonly known as the Tasmanian tiger. The thylacline is a distant relative of the Tasmanian devil and was over twice its size!

Sounds scary

The name “devil” may come from the sounds they make.

They make eerie growls while searching for food at night. And when a group of them feeds together, they screech and scream.

Devil’s milk

Mothers produce milk that researchers say can kill hard-to-treat infections.

Experts believe this helps their young grow stronger and with further studies, it could be a useful weapon against antibiotic-resistant superbugs.

Together, we protect wildlife

Devils in danger

Tasmanian devils are severely threatened by a contagious cancer called devil facial tumor disease (DFTD). Since the disease was discovered in 1996, the population of the devils has declined by 80%.

The cancer is spread when they bite each other, as they do during both mating and fighting. The facial tumors that grow prevent the Tasmanian devils from eating.

The IUCN Status

Endangered

At very high risk of extinction in the wild

Saving the devils

Under the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, cancer-free devils are moved to remote locations to protect them from infection.

We support the Program by funding veterinary services to care for the devils, and to conduct health checks of pre-release animals.

The devils in our care are part of a DFTD-free assurance colony to help secure the species from extinction.

The IUCN Status

Endangered

At very high risk of extinction in the wild

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is widely recognized as the most comprehensive, objective global approach for evaluating the conservation status of plant and animal species.

Data Deficient

Unknown risk of extinction

Least Concern

At relatively low risk of extinction

Near Threatened

Likely to become vulnerable in the near future

Vulnerable

At high risk of extinction in the wild

Endangered

At very high risk of extinction in the wild

Critically Endangered

At extremely high risk of extinction in the wild

Extinct in the Wild

Survives only in captivity

Extinct

No surviving individuals in the wild or in captivity

Special Experiences

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Tasmanian Devil Keeper Talk

Daily Tasmanian Devil Exhibit, Tasmanian Devil Trail 8:00pm

Did you know that when Tasmanian devils feed together, they screech and scream? Hear them in action when they’re at their most active — mealtimes and discover more about them from our Keepers!