It takes more than one factor for a species to become extinct. Usually a species faces extinction due to loss of habitat, inadequate food, human interferance such as destruction of habitat or introduction of a foreign animal such as the fox or disease. Looking at all these factors then I would say that the Tasmanian Devil is in terrible trouble.

The main concern with the Tasmanian Devil is the Facial Tumour Disease and it's unique makeup. The disease is transmitted from one Devil to another by transferring cells through biting. The Devil's Immune System is not recognising these cells as foreign and as a result they are not producing anitbodies to erradicate these foreign cells which eventually turn into cancerous tumours appearing prodominently on the face but spread throughout the body, killing the devil within months.

If scientists are unable to find a way to make the Devils immune system recognise these cells as foreign then the disease will continue to progress throughout the state and combine that with the destruction of forests which destroys home ranges, dens and limits food supply due to the poisoning of wallabies and possums, also road kill the Devils future seems set for extinction in the wild maybe as early as 20 years if current figures are anything to go by.

At the present time the Red Fox establishing itself in Tasmania has probably only been avoided due to the Tasmanian Devil who most likely would raid dens and kill pups. If the Devil Population disappears, the Fox could establish and they may be the final nail in the Devils coffin as well as every other rare and flourishing wildlife in Tasmania.

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