The Tasmanian devil is not just a cartoon! It is a most unusual mammal, found only on the island state of Tasmania, a part of Australia. Why the “fiery” name and reputation? When a group of Tasmanian devils feeds together at a carcass, harsh screeching and spine-chilling screams can be heard. They are also black in color and are said to have fierce tempers! The San Diego Zoo is currently one of only a few zoos in the US with Tasmanian devils. Wild devils face extinction due to devil facial tumor disease (DFTD), a rare, contagious cancer found only in devils. Our Tasmanian devils are free of this disease.
Did you know? Devil babies, called joeys, grow up in their mother’s pouch.