Little devils may be saviours yet (breeding program a success)

[depakid]

http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2008/07/23/devil_joeys_narrowweb__300x372,0.jpg

IT'S A BOY - and a girl. Plus three more of undetermined sex.

A breeding program to save Tasmanian devils from extinction has scored a success, with five joeys being born to two females at Dubbo's Western Plains Zoo.

Zoo staff got their first good look at two of their joeys last week when the senior Tasmanian devil keeper, David Schaap, picked up one new mother and found two infants clutching to the outside of her pouch.

"There's a male and a female," said a delighted Mr Schaap. The third remained hidden inside the pouch, and could not be sexed.

Two joeys being carried by a second mother were still too young to be examined. And there could be more, with three other females yet to be checked for babies.

Mr Schaap confessed it was the proudest moment of his 10-year career. "It's a very rare occasion when you get to put 'saving a species' on your resume. They are insurance against their extinction in the wild."

In their home state the animals are threatened by the fatal devil facial tumour disease.

Last year, just in case scientists fail to find a cure, 12 young devils were captured from parts of Tasmania still considered disease-free and sent to Taronga's Western Plains Zoo for "protective breeding".

More: http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/little-devils-may-be-saviours-yet/2008/07/22/1216492455094.html

[AllieB]

1. I saw a show about the disease that's decimating the population

on National geographic last week. I really hope that they can save the Devil.