Tasmanian devils find new home and hope at Prague zoo
Four endangered Tasmanian devils, the world's largest carnivorous marsupials, have found a new home at Prague zoo. A male named Sumac and females called Nutmeg, Aniseed and Laurel were all born in 2018 and taken to Prague a year later.
Prague is one of two European zoos, besides Copenhagen, that have obtained the animals directly from Tasmania.
A scavenger, the Tasmanian devil is threatened by a contagious cancer called devil facial tumor disease. The disease, spread by means of bites, has brought the species to the verge of extinction.
It is lethal because it generates massive boils at the mouth and the animal dies from hunger. As they feed off carcasses that are frequently found near roads, they also face a threat from passing cars.
Under an Australian program, devils are now being sent to zoos worldwide to survive. Healthy devils are also taken from Tasmania to a nearby island protected as a wildlife park. A decade ago, conservationists started to reintroduce devils to the Australian mainland. The animals can climb trees or swim across rivers.
