Tasmanian Devils Under Siege

The world's population of Tasmanian devils has dropped by 90% since Devil Facial Tumor Disease, an infectious cancer that targets the animals, was first identified in 1996 and now some scientists worry that only 2,000 of the species is left in the world.

Transmission commonly occurs because devils often bite one another on the mouth during mating or while fighting over territory. There currently is no cure and the disease has reportedly mutated into 13 different strains

Tasmanian devils with large facial tumors were first photographed in north-east Tasmania during 1996. DFTD, characterized by cancers around the mouth and head, is a fatal condition in Tasmanian devils.

Tasmanian Devil at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia.

Devils feed on some meat at the opening of a new exhibit and breeding center at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia. The breeding center was set up as part of a conservation program to save the endangered carnivorous marsupials from extinction due to Devil Facial Tumor Disease.

The size of a small dog, the Tasmanian devil is a marsupial whose screeches, black color, and reputed bad-temper led the early European settlers to call it "the devil." They fell for nature's trick: the screams they heard were a bluff used by the creatures to establish dominance within the group.

Wildlife biologist from a Tasmanian devil monitoring team with one of the animals under observation.

Three young Tasmanian devils at play. In the last few years, a handful of sanctuaries - such as the one at Healesville Sanctuary - have been built to house isolated populations of devils - the hope being to replenish their ranks in a controlled environment.