The removal of diseased animals from the landscape will not control the spread of facial tumour disease among Tasmanian devils.
New research suggests an unfeasibly large number of devils would need to be culled in order to control the disease.
The facial cancer is believed to be transmitted by biting during mating and has spread across most of the Tassie devil’s range. As a result, populations have declined by 80%.
The new research supports a decision by the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program to move away from the removal of diseased animals.
Read more at University of Tasmania