Using the diveshop as base camp, we toured around the Tasman Peninsula and spent several hours at the Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park. This wildlife rescue centre has lots of native animals & birds on display but it was the Tasmanian Devils that we had come to see.
These bad tempered, carnivorous marsupials are the size of fat Jack Russell terriers and act as disposal units, consuming huge quantities of carrion each night. Sadly, they often end up as road-kill themselves while feasting on the squashed wallabies & possums on the road.
Already extinct on the mainland, they are now threatened by a mysterious facial tumour disease that has wiped out up to 90% of the devils in parts of Tasmania. The disease is transmitted by bite and unfortunately Devils fight over absolutely everything – mates, food, even a place to sleep, so they are their own worst enemy.
These bad tempered, carnivorous marsupials are the size of fat Jack Russell terriers and act as disposal units, consuming huge quantities of carrion each night. Sadly, they often end up as road-kill themselves while feasting on the squashed wallabies & possums on the road.Already extinct on the mainland, they are now threatened by a mysterious facial tumour disease that has wiped out up to 90% of the devils in parts of Tasmania. The disease is transmitted by bite and unfortunately Devils fight over absolutely everything – mates, food, even a place to sleep, so they are their own worst enemy.
The park is breeding disease-free Devils for other parks to maintain a healthy breeding population while they study the disease and hopefully find a vaccine.
Naturally nocturnal creatures, they get tempted out of bed at regular feeding intervals so that the visitors see them in action. 
The keeper did a very entertaining talk while they fought and mugged each other for a bit of rabbit etc. They eat every bit of the animal, including the fur and bones and then they pass out for a few hours to digest it! 
