What use are Tasmanian devils?
A. Tasmanian devils have enormous value. They are fundamental to our ecology at the top of the food chain. As scavengers they play a vital role as nature’s auditors, removing sick, slow, diseased and dead animals from the landscape. Tasmanian devils are a very important line of defence against introduced animals, particularly feral cats and the Red Fox. Both species are devastating to native wildlife. Tasmanian devils are intrinsic to the Tasmanian psyche, and an icon of wild Tasmania. They are a great example of wildlife succeeding against all manner of pressures, a true ‘Aussie battler’.
A. Tasmanian devils have a number of values from intrinsic and psychological, through financial to ecological, even a value to Tasmania’s famous “clean green” image. Tasmanian devils are the very essence of wildness, they are omnipresent, always there but never there. They play an important role in the Tasmanian psyche, and possibly more than anything else, they are an icon of wild Tasmania. Tasmanian devils have inspired story tellers and writers. Tasmanian devils also offer a great example of wildlife succeeding amongst all manner of pressures, a true ‘battler’. Tasmanian devils are of increasing importance to tourism. Devils are of long time importance in marketing. We have sports teams, products, many items marketed as devil products or associated with devils. Thanks to Warner Brothers there has been some worldwide marketing of Tasmanian devils, albeit a somewhat fanciful image. Tasmanian evils are basic to displays of Tasmanian wildlife in zoos and wildlife parks. Devils also have
