Study Establishes Critical Genome Bank for Tasmanian Devils
MAF Successful Outcome: Once found throughout Australia, wild Tasmanian devils are now found only on the island of Tasmania, where the population is rapidly declining because of a fatal and contagious epidemic of facial tumor disease. With Morris Animal Foundation funding, scientists at the University of Sydney undertook a long-term study to increase understanding of the natural reproduction of this species. They established the first Tasmanian devil genome bank, at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, and biological samples for the bank continue to be collected. The research efforts in this study, which included the examination of female reproductive cycles and characterization of unsuccessful pairings, could improve captive breeding efforts and help develop assisted reproductive technology to aid in the devil’s long-term management and survival both in captivity and in the wild. Since the beginning of this study in 2007, the Tasmanian devil has been moved from the threatened to the endangered species list, emphasizing the urgent need to gain a better understanding of the species’ biology and develop assisted reproductive technology to help save Tasmanian devils from extinction.
Dr. Justine O’Brien, University of Sydney
Posted by MAFon December 2, 2010.
Categories: Animal health, Wildlife health
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