NZ zoos apply to import Tas devils
Two New Zealand zoos want to import up to 20 tumour-free Tasmanian devils.
Wellington Zoo’s Simon Eyre says New Zealand wants to assist in protecting the vulnerable marsupial in any way it can.
He says the Wellington and Auckland zoos are likely to take animals born in the population free of the facial tumour disease.
As you may (not) have heard, the Tasmanian Devil species as a whole has been suffering from a deadly facial tumor disease, which has made quite a few of them even uglier than there were originally.
Given that they are kind of a Tasmanian icon, having starred in such critically acclaimed shows as Disney’s ‘Looney Toons’, this is obviously a very bad thing.
So it’s a nice gesture that some New Zealand zoos are offering to import some of the non-infected specimens, in order to preserve them in the good old shaky isles.
Sounds like a good plan. However, just as a warning: if one of these little bad boys manages to escape, I seriously fear for the future of the rest of New Zealand’s wildlife.
Honestly, they’re not called devils for no good reason. They’re aggressive, heartless, cold-blooded killers. They have very few redeeming characteristics, other than that they are unique to a certain geographic location. And of course the Looney Tunes thing.
So, goodbye to any remaining Kiwi birds.
And, goodbye to ….
(Well I’m stumped actually, NZ doesn’t have much tough wildlife, does it?)
Anyway, if you don’t believe me, then watch the following clip.
Juli Ryan said
This is a stupid idea. Isn’t one marsupial problem enough?
Louise said
strictly speaking, you would need one bad boy and one bad girl for there to be a real problem. Perhaps they could learn to enjoy BBQ possum…
fushnchupsblog said
Well Juli, we could actually be looking at a solution to that problem.
And Louise, don’t underestimate the carnage that could be carried out by a single rogue devil :-) You saw the video.
Will de Cleene said
While we’re at it, why not import a few cane toads too?
Robert said
Since NZ already has dogs and cats (and other introduced carnivores), concerns about potential escapes by Tasmanian Devils are a case of closing the gate after the horse has bolted.
Alfonso Delgardeo said
Last year at the Australian Zoo, we wandered into the Tassie Devil viewing enclosure and found one of the staff there with a clipboard. What was she doing? Well was recording two little Devil’s doing the “beast with two backs” thing. Not sure which aspects of it she was noting, but it was definitely rough sex! Lot’s of biting and scratching and quite long duration! Fortunately the kids didn’t ask too many questions.
maxine said
why would anyone want to import these damn ugly devils?? perhaps simon eyre should move to tassie and continue his life saving work there.
Megan said
Oh dear, not these little buggers! Imagine having one as a pet?
I so agree, admin. If one of these devils does manage to escape, it will spread its ferocity like a disease through this country’s wildlife. Not the brightest move, in my opinion.
Russell said
Admin,
Since NZ really doesn’t have any wildlife and here in Oz we have very interesting fauna we could improve NZ by exporting our animals there. Say, rainbow lorrikeets ,rosellas ,cockatoos(beautiful birds in contrast to those those drab kiwis) and why not taipans,funnel web spiders,dingos,tiger snakes,goannas,and in time,with global warming we could transfer salt water crocodiles to the North Island. Imagine a few thousand, 1 tonne,6m salties cruising NZ rivers,tourists would be fascinated.
CW said
Tasmanian Devils are not predators, they are carrion feeders. So there’s no chance of them hunting down native New Zealand animals, only cleaning up the carcass.
Mrs Farmer said
Well, CW,
… not quite. Yes, they are carrion eaters, but are also predators, hunting birds, reptiles, insects and other small mammals. We’ve inflicted so much on the Kiwis – the reverend Samual Marden, this esteemed blog’s admin – let’s have some mercy … :)
a said
Warner Bros
Rogues3000 said
Whats the problem if there in adequate enclosures? whe have large carnivores in zoos also they are fine.
FYI if they hadn’t released long tailed rock wallabies in islands in the north of NZ then the population of them in Aus would be in serious trouble now as some where able to be re introduced from that population.
nothing story.
I’m done with it.