From the Age:July 1, 2010
A BREEDING centre for Tasmanian devils has opened at Sydney's Taronga
Zoo to help ward off their extinction from a rare transmissible cancer
that causes facial tumours.
The tumours interfere with feeding, resulting in some animals starving
to death. If a cure is not found, the devils might become extinct within
25 years, Environment Minister Frank Sartor said yesterday.
A breeding program that began in 2008 has already seen the birth of 24
devils at Taronga and Taronga Western Plains zoos.
A $1 million centre housing four breeding areas was officially opened at
Taronga yesterday to promote awareness of the program. It includes an
outdoor ''classroom'' showing the difficulties the devils face.
''The state-of-the-art exhibit will help visitors learn more about how
the cancer is threatening the survival of this species and what NSW zoos
are doing to help,'' Taronga chief executive Cameron Kerr said.
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