THE Tasmanian devil has been adopted as Tasmania’s animal emblem. Tasmanian Governor Kate Warner signed the declaration on Friday. The idea to adopt the devil as Tasmania’s faunal emblem was first floated by Environment Minister Matthew Groom in January. Tasmania had been the only Australian state without an official faunal emblem. Mr Groom last week told The Examiner that the government was still considering the idea after receiving more than 65 submissions during the consultation period. Wild devils are found only in Tasmania, and although they were once common they have become a threatened species. Devil numbers have declined drastically since the mid-1990s due to a transmissible cancer known as Devil Facial Tumour Disease. The devil was classified as endangered in 2008. The Aboriginal name for the devil is purinina, and its Latin name is Sarcophilus harrisii.
THE Tasmanian devil has been adopted as Tasmania’s animal emblem.
Tasmanian Governor Kate Warner signed the declaration on Friday.
The idea to adopt the devil as Tasmania’s faunal emblem was first floated by Environment Minister Matthew Groom in January.
Tasmania had been the only Australian state without an official faunal emblem.
Mr Groom last week told The Examiner that the government was still considering the idea after receiving more than 65 submissions during the consultation period.
Wild devils are found only in Tasmania, and although they were once common they have become a threatened species.
Devil numbers have declined drastically since the mid-1990s due to a transmissible cancer known as Devil Facial Tumour Disease.
The devil was classified as endangered in 2008.
The Aboriginal name for the devil is purinina, and its Latin name is Sarcophilus harrisii.
