Miniature bear: is it possible to have a Tasmanian devil at home? Tasmanian devil or marsupial devil (lat.

The Taman devil is a marsupial mammal. He is a predator, as evidenced by his toothy mouth and eerie screams at night. Despite its relatively small size, this living creature instilled fear in the first settlers in Europe, for which it was called the “devil.”

Appearance of the Taman devil.

The Taman devil is one of the largest marsupial predators. But in fact, its size does not exceed the size of an average dog. The body shape and color of the animal resembles a bear cub. Its body length is no more than 90 cm, plus a long tail up to 35 cm. Males are larger and more weight than females.

The Taman devil has very strong paws, but the forelimbs are slightly shorter than the hind limbs, which adds clumsiness to the animal. The head appears large and out of proportion, the muzzle is blunt. The ears are short and have pink color. In the area of the chest and rump the fur is white; on the rest of the body it is short, stiff and black. The tail of the Tasmanian devil can change its thickness, as fat reserves are deposited in it and during periods of hunger the tail becomes thin. Another feature of this animal is the absence of the first toe on its hind legs.

Very strong jaws are covered with sharp and large teeth. The animal is able to bite and crush bones with its molars.

Only females have a bursa, and it is a fold of skin in the form of a horseshoe on the abdomen, in which 4 nipples are located.

Photo: evil Taman devil.

Habitats

Nowadays, the Tasmanian devil can only be found on the island of Tasmania, but it once lived in Australia. From there he disappeared about 500 years ago. According to scientists, the Tasmanian devil was supplanted by dingo dogs, which were brought by the aborigines of the mainland.

In Tasmania, devils were first exterminated because they ravaged chicken coops. Animals began to move to mountainous and undeveloped areas, their population was rapidly declining, and in 1941 a law was passed banning hunting of the Tasmanian devil. Now these animals lead a quiet lifestyle in almost all parts of the island.

Lifestyle and diet

The devil can never be found in areas where there are no forests and a lot of people. Most of them live in coastal savannas, near pastures, and sclerophyll-rain forests.

During the day, the marsupial devil prefers to rest in a hole or crevices between stones, where he brings grass, bark, leaves and makes a real bed for himself. And at night he goes hunting.

In order to feel good, the Tasmanian devil needs to eat a volume of food equal to 15% of its body weight. Its diet includes lizards, birds, insects, small mammals, roots and tubers of plants. He also loves river and sea food, for example, frogs. But most often the animal is content with the carrion of fish, rabbits, sheep, and rats. He is not so willing to eat fresh corpses, but prefers slightly decomposed ones, such strange tastes. Bloodthirsty Tasmanian devil eats prey along with fur and bones.

The Tasmanian devil, thanks to its love of carrion, will save sheep from infection by blow flies, because it eats rotten meat in which these flies multiply and develop.

Within a radius of up to 15 km from its refuge, the Tasmanian devil considers its territory to be its own. He regularly inspects the property at night. These are solitary animals; they will not share either land or prey with their relatives.

The Tasmanian devil makes growling, rasping sounds near danger and high-pitched screams to scare intruders away from its burrow.

If there is no danger nearby, the marsupial devil becomes clumsy, but at the slightest threat he takes off running, developing speeds of up to 15 km/h. These animals swim very poorly.

The Tasmanian devil has virtually no natural enemies. They were once part of the diet of marsupial wolves and dingoes, but after migrating to Tasmania, their only enemy was the fox, which was illegally brought to the island in 2000.

These animals are quite tame and can be kept as pets.

Photo: tame Taman devil.

Reproduction

The mating period occurs at the beginning of spring. Pregnancy lasts only 3 weeks, and ends with the birth of 20 cubs, but only 4 survive, because there are only 4 nipples in the female’s pouch. After 3 months, the babies are completely overgrown with hair and their eyes open. At 4 months they leave the pouch, but periodically feed on milk for another couple of months. 6 months after birth, the cubs leave their mother for good, entering an independent life.

The lifespan of the Tasmanian devil is about 8 years.

Tasmanian devils have recently become very popular exotic pets, especially in the United States. Every day everything more people neglects traditional pets like cats and dogs to buy lovable Tasmanian devils. Although Tasmanian devils have gotten a bad reputation thanks to the bad Looney Tunes character Taz, they truly are one of the most lovable animals to have in your home. Let's find out a little more about our new furry friend.

Character and behavior of the Tasmanian devil
Tasmanian devils have a uniquely grumpy disposition and will fly into manic rages when threatened by a predator, fighting for a mate, or defending their prey. Early European settlers nicknamed it "the devil" after witnessing similar displays in which it bared its teeth, attacked, and let out a chilling, guttural roar.

Photo. Cartoon hero, Taz

This amazingly vicious mammal has coarse brown or black fur, and its stocky build reminds us of a growing bear cub. Most of them have white stripe or a spot on the chest, as well as light spots on the sides or back. These animals have short hind legs and long front legs, which gives them the gait of a pig.

The Tasmanian devil is the world's largest carnivorous marsupial, reaching 76 cm (30 in) in length and up to 12 kg (26 lb) in weight, although its size varies depending on the specific habitat and food availability. The non-standard size head is armed with strong muscular jaws and sharp teeth. In terms of bite force per unit weight, its bite is one of the most powerful bites among mammals.

The Tasmanian devil is clearly a carnivore, hunting small prey such as snakes, fish, birds and insects and often feasting on carrion in groups. They often make a lot of noise as they fight for position while eating a large carcass. Like other marsupials, when they are well fed, their tails swell with stored fat.

Tasmanian devils are hermits and lead night look life, spending their days in burrows, caves or hollow logs and emerging at night to feed. They use their excellent sense of smell, long whiskers and eyesight to avoid predators and find prey or carrion. They eat almost anything they can get their teeth into, and when they do find food, they are very voracious, eating everything including organs, hair and bones.

Females give birth after three weeks of gestation to 20 to 30 very tiny babies. These raisin-sized babies crawl through their mother's fur and into her pouch. However, the mother only has four nipples, so not all of the babies survive. Babies emerge from the pouch after about four months and, as a rule, are weaned by their mother in the sixth month or do so on their own in the eighth month.

Previously, Tasmanian devils lived throughout Australia, today they are found in wild conditions can be seen on the island state of Tasmania of the same name. In Tasmania, they live throughout the island, although some can be found in coastal forests and bushes. Experts believe that their disappearance on the mainland is due to the appearance of the dingo or Asian dogs.

In the late 1800s, efforts to eradicate Tasmanian devils (farmers mistakenly believed they were killing livestock, although they have been known to kill poultry) were very successful. In 1941, the Australian government classified the Tasmanian devil as a protected species, and today its numbers are constantly growing.

Endangered
In the mid-90s it was discovered terrible disease, due to which tens of thousands of Tasmanian devils died. This disease is called Tasmanian devil facial tumor disease (DFTD) and is a rapidly spreading rare view cancer, which causes large tumors to form around the animal's mouth and head, making it difficult for the animal to eat. Eventually, the animal dies of starvation. Experts on these animals are focused on a captive breeding program to save the species from extinction. Due to the DFTD outbreak, the Australian government has classified Tasmanian devils as a vulnerable species.

Video. Angry Tasmanian devil

Fortunately, a recent study published in the journal Nature Communications, in which scientists studied samples of these animals dating from 1999-2014, reports that the Tasmanian devil genome is rapidly mutating. Seven genes have been discovered that characterize immunity to cancer in humans. Therefore, scientists are confident that the Tasmanian devil will survive and develop immunity to this incurable disease.

Some Interesting Facts about the Tasmanian devil
1. Insanely powerful bite. Tasmanian devils do not attack humans unless provoked, but they are not afraid to defend themselves. When they bite, their powerful jaws can cause great harm. Their bite per unit body weight is 540 kg per square inch! This is strong enough to break the metal trap.

2. Small but fierce. These strong animals can swim across the river and climb onto the most tall tree. If necessary, they are capable of running for an hour at speeds of up to 12 miles per hour.

Photo. Tasmanian Devil's Mouth

3. Signaling ears. If you're not entirely sure whether a Tasmanian devil is angry (growling doesn't count), pay attention to the color of its ears. An angry Tasmanian Devil's ears will change in color from pink to bright fiery red.

4. Secret weapon. Even though they are ferocious, they prefer to run away rather than fight another animal. If they feel threatened by other animal species, they can release a terrible odor that resembles that of a skunk. When preparing for a confrontation with another Tasmanian devil, these creatures warn of their displeasure by sneezing and roaring similar to that made by a pig when it is slaughtered.

5. Big appetite. Tasmanian devils eat 5-10% of their body weight in food every day. If they are really hungry, these creatures are known to be able to eat up to 40% of their body weight in just 30 minutes.

6. Scientific name. The official scientific name of the Tasmanian devil is Sarcophilus Harrisii, which translates from Latin language means "lover of flesh."

7. As a symbol. The Tasmanian devil is a symbol of both the Tasmanian Service national parks and wildlife, as well as the former Australian rules football team, the Tasmanian Devils. He also got his own commemorative coin Australian dollar in the early 1990s. This animal is also very popular among tourists.

8. Nocturnal animals. Although these animals are not very numerous, the chances of seeing them increase if you drive through national parks or high mountain lakes after dark.

9. Tails are a sign of health. The Tasmanian devil's tail stores fat, and if its tail is skinny, then this is a sure sign of a sick or starving animal.

10. Females have pouches. The pouch in females is shaped like a horseshoe and opens backwards. This is a very clever design and prevents dirt from filling the bag when the animal digs. There are only 4 nipples in the bag.

Video. Glutton in Tasmania

Tasmanian devil as a pet
Before you decide to get this animal, you should read this section of the article. Tasmanian devils do not like water. Devils are known to go into "psychotic rages" when forced to take baths. During this time they become very confused and anxious, they may run in circles endlessly and crash into a wall at top speed.

Unlike cats and dogs, the Tasmanian devil is easy to feed. They eat any remains, carrion and corpses. They also enjoy live food and are happy to hunt down and eat something, even if it means getting into a fight. Their prey can be: cats, ferrets, dogs, iguanas, cows, horses and even elephants. Yes, you are probably wondering how they can kill an elephant? Their jaws are so strong that they can crush the heads of elephants like a vice like a coconut.

Tasmanian devils also have many cute traits. They can be friendly, pleasant and even loving... as long as they are not irritated. Tasmanian devils can be irritated by many things, such as turning on the TV, changing the lights, talking, children laughing and being petted.

When they become violently angry, they often try to break windows, tear apart furniture that gets in their way, and violently attack small children. At this time, the main thing is not to scare them away.

It is also important to understand that Tasmanian devils are nocturnal animals. They love to wander around the house late at night and make their beautiful (but loud) repeated squeals. They also love to copulate, confusing anything with their potential partner. “Anything” could be: clothes from a laundry basket, a coffee table, even a human leg. At this time they tend to squeal wildly and bite.

To conclude, Tasmanian devils are not very good pets to keep. They are very energetic, fierce and capable of attacking you and other animals.

About the attacks of the Tasmanian devil on people
There are very few reports of attacks by Tasmanian devils on people; as a rule, people escaped with cuts and wounds on their arms (fed by hand) and legs. But there is definitely not a single report of a Tasmanian devil killing a person. More often than not, tourists suffer from these animals because they have never seen such marvelous, voracious animals roaring like pigs.

Newly released Tasmanian devils on Mariah Island have caused serious harm to visitors by preying on birds and harassing people, the operator of a ferry at a popular tourist destination has said.

John Cole-Cook is afraid to take his child with him because he fears for him. Some of the Tasmanian devils have grown as large as Australian Cattle Dogs (Blue Heelers) and have become especially brazen towards people. Some of them have already bitten tourists.

28 Tasmanian devils were released on Mariah Island, which is home to a world heritage site listed in 2012 by Darlington Probation Station. This was done as part of a plan to create a healthy population to protect them from the Tasmanian demon facial tumor, which is decimating animals in Tasmania.

That initial population has now grown to nearly 100 individuals and Cole-Cook wants them fenced in for public safety reasons. Cole-Cook said that previously on the Cape, geese calmly laid eggs and nursed chickens, the same applies to other birds.

But now the island's once prolific bird population is dwindling due to the Tasmanian devil's more brazen interactions with humans.

"After all, they can do serious harm small child" Cole-Cook said. “Already, several tourists who have been hand-fed by Tasmanian devils have been bitten, and they have also been found in tents and on beds in campgrounds.”

“These devils are big, almost like blue heelers.” Cole-Cook said 16 Tasmanian devils that bit tourists on Mariah Island last week were deported back to Tasmania.

But the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and environment(DPIPWE), said the Tasmanian devils were sent back to support other protected groups and not because of "bad behaviour".

"Some of the older released animals were familiar and comfortable around people, but only one animal was removed from the island due to contact with people," he said.

“This animal does not bite anyone, but holds its position when cornered.” Cole-Cook advised tourists not to hand-feed Tasmanian devils, but he said many ignored the advice.

He said the Tasmanian devil relocation program had merit but it now needed to be rethought.

"It's time to confine them to some part of the island," he said.

DPIPWE said Mariah Island was chosen specifically because it was home to other introduced species such as the chicken goose.

“This is being done to ensure population sustainability to maximize genetic diversity and minimize their impact on other native species in the National Park.”

Classical zoological science identifies in its taxonomy up to 5,500 modern species mammals. All of them differ markedly from each other in size, areola, structure and external signs. One of the most specific animals of this class was a warlike predator, which received the name Tasmanian devil.

It is the only representative of its genus, but scientists have noted its significant similarity to quolls and, most distantly, to the extinct marsupial thylacine.

Description and appearance

The animal Tasmanian devil is a predatory animal marsupial mammal. This is the only representative of its kind. Scientists managed to establish family connection with the marsupial wolf, but it is expressed rather weakly.

The Tasmanian marsupial devil is a medium-sized predator, about the size of an average dog, that is, 12-15 kilograms. The height at the withers is 24-26 centimeters, less often 30. Outwardly, one might think that this is a clumsy animal due to its asymmetrical paws and rather plump physique. However, it is a very dexterous and successful predator. This is facilitated by very strong jaws, powerful claws, and his keen vision and hearing.

This is interesting! The tail deserves special attention - an important sign of the health of the animal. If it is covered with thick fur and is very thick, then the Tasmanian marsupial devil is well fed and absolutely healthy. Moreover, the animal uses it as a fat store for difficult times.

Character and behavior of the Tasmanian devil

Tasmanian devils have a uniquely grumpy disposition and will fly into manic rages when threatened by a predator, fighting for a mate, or defending their prey. Early European settlers nicknamed it "the devil" after witnessing similar displays of it baring its teeth, attacking, and emitting a chilling, guttural roar.

This amazingly vicious mammal has coarse brown or black fur, and its stocky build reminds us of a growing bear cub. Most have a white stripe or spot on the chest, as well as light spots on the sides or back. These animals have short hind legs and long front legs, which gives them the gait of a pig.

Tasmanian devils are hermits and nocturnal, spending their days in burrows, caves or hollow logs and emerging at night to feed. They use their excellent sense of smell, long whiskers and eyesight to avoid predators and find prey or carrion. They eat almost anything they can get their teeth into, and when they do find food, they are very voracious, eating everything including organs, hair and bones.

Previously, Tasmanian devils lived throughout Australia; today they can be seen in the wild on the island state of Tasmania of the same name. In Tasmania, they live throughout the island, although some can be found in coastal forests and bushes. Experts believe that their disappearance on the mainland is due to the appearance of the dingo or Asian dogs.

Habitats

Tasmanian devils once lived throughout almost all of Australia, but today they live exclusively on the island of Tasmania. Researchers believe that devils disappeared from the mainland at the same time that native tribes spread across Australia, and wild dingoes appeared about 3 thousand years ago.

Today, Tasmanian devils, as the name suggests, live on the island of Tasmania, but most of these animals can be found in wooded areas off the coast. In the 19th century, Tasmanian devils began to be mercilessly exterminated, as local farmers viewed them as sworn enemies of their livestock. They almost became extinct, but timely measures taken to save these animals allowed them to increase their populations.

Security status: an endangered species

Tasmanian devils became protected in 1941, but their population has declined by 60 percent in the past decade. Scientists believe that the reason for the decline in animal numbers is mainly due to an infectious, deadly form of cancer that affects devils and spreads very quickly. Tumors form on the devils' faces, making it more difficult for the animals to eat. The devils problem is also movement. road transport on the roads.

Nutritional Features

As already mentioned, Tasmanian devils are carnivorous animals. Most of the time they eat birds, snakes, fish and insects. Sometimes even a small kangaroo can become their victim. Often, instead of hunting live animals, they feast on dead carcasses, called carrion. Sometimes several animals can gather near one carcass, and then fights between them are inevitable. While eating, they absorb everything without loss: they eat bones, wool, internal organs and the muscles of their prey. The Tasmanian devil's favorite food, due to its high fat content, is the wombat.

But the animal may well feast on any other mammals, fruits, frogs, tadpoles and reptiles. Their diet depends primarily on the availability of dinner. At the same time, they have a very good appetite: per day they can take food equal to half their weight.

Reproduction

The female, who has reached the age of two, goes out in search of a male. Even when mating marsupial devils are very aggressive, because they are used to living alone and do not tolerate being in a group of their own kind. After three days During their time together, the female drives away the male and this brings her great pleasure.

Pregnancy for a female marsupial devil lasts only three weeks. The offspring appear somewhere in late April or early May, since the mating period begins at the end of March or early April. The female gives birth to twenty cubs, which weigh no more than twenty-nine grams. But only four survive. The babies that do not survive are eaten by the female.

Tasmanian devils are born very small, but already at three months their eyes open and hair appears on their body, and at that time they weigh approximately two hundred grams. After a month, they can get out of the female’s pouch and explore the world on their own, but they feed on milk for the next two months.

The lifespan of a marsupial devil is no more than eight years.

Natural enemies of the Tasmanian devil

Due to their aggressive nature and nocturnal lifestyle, adult marsupial devils have few natural enemies. Previously, they were hunted by the marsupial wolf (thylacine) and dingo. Young animals are attacked predator birds and brindle marsupial martens. New enemy and food competitor of the Tasmanian devil - common fox, which was introduced to Tasmania at the beginning of the 21st century.

The Tasmanian devil caused trouble to European settlers, ravaged chicken coops, ate animals that fell into traps, and attacked lambs and sheep. For these reasons, the animal was actively exterminated. Edible meat, which tastes like veal, was also in demand. By the mid-20th century, the species was on the verge of complete extinction, and hunting was prohibited, but the population was restored. Now it is stable, although subject to seasonal fluctuations.

Or, others - lions or tigers, and some - or octopuses.

In this article we will talk about a miniature bear, which bears the proud name - Tasmanian devil. So, who is the Tasmanian devil? Let's figure it out.

Description and appearance

Australia, known for its marsupials, is considered the homeland of the Tasmanian devil. The devil, in its shape and color, resembles a bear, albeit in miniature, because the length of the Australian predator reaches only 50 cm, and at the withers it is no taller than a yard.

The characteristic color of this animal is black with rare splashes of white spots. Man first encountered this predator during the colonization of the Australian continent, at a time when British prisoners were exiled to this huge island

. European pets were also brought to Australia along with the prisoners.

It was then that night attacks on sheep and chickens by an unknown marsupial predator, the Tasmanian devil, became more frequent, so it’s not hard to guess why it was called that.

Thanks to the predatory features of the muzzle and the fickle mood, the Tasmanian miniature bear received such an unkind nickname. They also called him the devil because he makes sounds that are very unpleasant for human hearing, similar to whiny grumbling and howling, and in moments of anger - to a hoarse rumble, somewhat reminiscent of the rumble of a motorcycle.

In terms of the ratio of bite force to body weight, the Tasmanian devil is the record holder among mammals.

Its stocky build and strong paws allow this predator to hunt all kinds of animals and even. The marsupial predator does not disdain sheep, rats, fish, and snakes. Also, if the hunt was unsuccessful, the animal may survive on carrion.

Initially, the marsupial devil lived not only on the island of Tasmania, but throughout mainland Australia. But after the locals introduced dingoes, which became the main opponents of the marsupial predator, the devil population began to decline rapidly. When in 1941 the number of devils dropped to a crisis point, a ban on their extermination was introduced.
Today, the marsupial predator can only be found in national reserves and northwestern regions of the island of Tasmania. This type of predator is not found in other places.

The main opponents of this species were marsupial wolves (thiacins), but they are already extinct, as well as dingoes. Since 2001, when it was illegally brought to Tasmania, the miniature bear has a new enemy. Their struggle for habitats continues today.

Wild Lifestyle

Surely by this time you have already formed a certain opinion about this animal. Someone has probably already given up on the idea of taming a Tasmanian miniature bear and keeping it as a cute pet.

But there are probably those among you who have only begun to dream about it more and more. If you are one of the latter, then you can learn a lot more interesting and important information, which will be discussed in the following sections.

Nutrition

Marsupial devils live in any landscape. For them, the main thing is the presence of a large amount of food, since they daily norm consumption is approximately equal to 15% of body weight. We can conclude that these animals are very voracious.

Tasmanian devils feed on whatever they can get their hands on, as they say. They don't go overboard either fresh meat, nor missing. A special delicacy for these animals are already decomposed corpses of animals and fish with corpse worms infested there.

Thanks to their strong legs and powerful muscles, Tasmanian devils can easily climb trees or enter chicken coops and climb to roosts. Their strong, toothy jaws skillfully kill small animals and birds, as well as snakes, frogs and small fish, which devils hunt near water bodies.

By nature, they are clumsy and slow, and therefore spend most of the day sleeping somewhere in the shade of bushes or abandoned holes, but at nightfall they get out to their bloody hunt.

Tasmanian devils are colorful loners in the animal world. They can only be forced into groups by eating large carrion, such as a cow. Then a whole flock of marsupial devils gathers for a meal.
Often in such cases, clashes arise between males. It is in such skirmishes that miniature bears emit piercing, heart-rending and even devilish screams that can be heard for many kilometers around.

The Tasmanian devil has a large head with a huge mouth dotted with sharp fangs. The power of its jaws is capable of crushing the bones, spine and even the skull of other animals in one bite. In the excrement of Tasmanian devils, the remains of not only meat and carrion, but also many other objects were found. Among them were scraps of towels, rubber remnants from stingrays, a piece of boot sole and scraps of leather from a horse stirrup, as well as silver foil and echidna quills.

In addition to their incredible gluttony and diet that includes carrion, Tasmanian devils can cause other problems if they become your pet. During periods when the animal is afraid or stressed, stands out caustic bad smell, similar to the reaction of skunks.

So if this difficult animal ever appears in your home, be prepared for the fact that it will need to be surrounded with attention, care and... air fresheners.

Reproduction

The miniature bear is solitary by nature, but in March-April, when spring comes, they, like most animals, begin their breeding season. But even during this short period they show extraordinary aggression, demonstrating with all their appearance their reluctance to stay close to another representative of their race for a long time.
So, already on the 3rd day after sexual intercourse, the female drives away the male. On average, pregnancy lasts 21 days, after which about 30 cubs are born. It’s sad, but only the 4 strongest babies will survive, and they will be the first to attach to one of the female’s 4 nipples. The remaining cubs are eaten by the female.

At about the 3rd month, Tasmanian devil cubs' eyes open and they leave their mother's pouch, but do not move away completely. Only by the end of December the new generation of devils finally leaves their mother and becomes independent.

According to statistics, among the surviving devils, the majority are females, who begin to have sexual intercourse and reproduce already in the 2nd year.

Possible diseases

Like all living creatures on the planet, Tasmanian devils are also susceptible to many diseases, the worst of which is facial tumor. It's scary not only because it's terrifying appearance, but also because this disease is fatal, and there is no cure for it.
The only reassurance for those who decide to tame the devil is the fact that the disease is transmitted externally, that is, from an infected individual to a healthy one, through bites during fights for food or females. Over the past 20 years, this disease has destroyed more than 2/3 of the population.

The disease begins with the formation of small tumors near the animal’s mouth, which over time spread throughout the body and begin to grow, increasing in size. Around 12–18 months after infection, the tumors cover the mouth and completely block vision, leading to starvation.

Important! The mortality rate from facial tumors in the Tasmanian devil is 100%. No cures have been found to date.

In order to prevent the complete extinction of the species, special nurseries have been created that raise reserve populations. In addition, research is being conducted to find a cure for fatal disease, and there are already some successes.

For example, it was found that tumor processes occur in cells designed to protect nervous system animal, and also that when infected, the same structural changes occur in these cells. Now it’s up to the life-saving discovery of a drug that will be able to cure a sick devil.
But nature itself intervenes to save the miniature bear population. Thus, researchers found that females began to reproduce six months/year earlier than usual. And in addition, the breeding season of the Tasmanian devil now takes all year round, and not just the beginning of spring.

Is it possible to tame the Tasmanian devil?

Both small and adult individuals are capable of domestication. And if you really want to, you can tame them and make them pets. Now entire flocks are raised in artificial conditions. These animals are carefully monitored and cared for by people, and therefore the animals have become tame and are not afraid of us.

The main thing to remember: shouldn't be scared little bear , otherwise it may emit a very unpleasant odor. Raw meat is used for feeding, and sometimes vegetables are added. If you come to terms with its strange and frightening sounds, the Tasmanian marsupial can become a funny, but still capricious little animal.

Is there a chance of buying a predator?

As we have already found out, you can tame the devil, but can you buy him? Unfortunately, the Tasmanian devil is not released from its native country. Tasmania has banned the export of these animals from its territory, and you are unlikely to be able to find a miniature bear for sale.

The only thing that can be done is to find people in your country who are engaged in artificial cultivation this type of animal. This is the only way you can get an exclusive pet.

But before you storm the Internet in search of sellers of Tasmanian devils, it is better to go to the reserve where these animals are located to look at them in reality, because they look beautiful in the picture, but in reality everything looks completely different.
The Tasmanian miniature bear is, without a doubt, a very interesting and capricious animal, loving solitude and hunting under the cover of darkness. It's hard to imagine that just 20 years ago this type practically disappeared from the face of the earth, but through the forces of people and the forces of nature itself, their population was saved.

And although they seem like cute, tame and harmless little bear cubs, in fact they are real predators with powerful clawed paws and strong jaws, capable of breaking a skull or crushing bones in one bite. Therefore, before you decide to start such a difficult pet, it’s worth thinking carefully about this idea and first taking a look at the object of your dreams in reality.

And if after contact with marsupial devil you will want to see him in your home even more - feel free to look for a nursery and tame the mysterious and peculiar, ferocious and whimsical, but at the same time cute and cute Tasmanian devil.

Being the largest of modern predatory marsupials, this black animal with white spots on the chest and rump, with a huge mouth and sharp teeth has a dense physique and a stern disposition, for which, in fact, it was called the Tasmanian devil (lat. Sarcophilus harrisii ). Emitting ominous screams at night, the massive and clumsy beast looks like a small bear: the front legs are slightly longer than the hind legs, the head is large, and the muzzle is blunt.

Sarcophilus (Greek) lover of flesh) is the name of its genus. These animals reach 50-80 cm in length, up to 30 cm in height and 12 kg in weight, the tail length is up to 30 cm. The female’s pouch opens backwards. Males are larger than females, but in principle a lot depends on age, nutrition and habitat: the size and weight of animals can change in one direction or another.

But what is invariable for everyone is small pink ears, short hair, a strong tail (where fat reserves are deposited), large claws and the absence of the first toe on the hind limbs. , endowed by nature with sharp, strong teeth, is capable of taking a bite and crushing not only the bone, but also the spine of its prey with one bite!

Previously, this amazing animal lived on mainland Australia, but today the Tasmanian devil can only be found on the island of Tasmania. It is assumed that it was squeezed out by wild ones brought to the mainland by the aborigines. European settlers also did not spare the Tasmanian devil, mercilessly exterminating its family due to the animal’s habit of destroying chicken coops.

In 1941, an official ban on hunting the Tasmanian devil literally saved these animals from complete extinction from the face of the Earth. Currently they live in national parks Tasmania, in the northern, western and central parts of the island, living in almost any landscape conditions, with the exception of densely populated regions.

As for the lifestyle and diet of the Tasmanian devil, inhabiting coastal savannas, dry sclerophyll and mixed sclerophyll-rain forests, they feed mainly on carrion, small animals (rats, rabbits) and birds. Insects, snakes and amphibians are also used.

The Tasmanian devil is very voracious: in a day he must eat 15% of his body weight. If he does not eat enough food of animal origin, he can snack on plant tubers and edible roots. The animal is active at night, hiding in dense bushes and rock crevices during the day.

The animals live in burrows and under the trunk of a fallen tree, making nests out of leaves, bark and grass. He loves to walk along the shore of a reservoir, eating nearby frogs, crayfish and other small aquatic inhabitants. Possessing an excellent sense of smell, the Tasmanian devil can smell carrion from a great distance.

Here size doesn’t matter - if necessary, he will eat both a sheep and a cow! I am especially pleased if the meat is properly rotten and decomposed. Going in search of prey, which the Tasmanian devil eats completely, along with bones and wool, he can fight for it with the marsupial marten.

By nature, Tasmanian devils are loners. They gather in groups only in one case - when they need to eat something large. At the same time, they fight and growl loudly, squeak, scream, making a wide variety of sounds, which earns them an additional bad reputation.

As scavengers, the Tasmanian Devil plays a vital role in the Tasmanian ecosystem, significantly reducing the likelihood of blowfly infestation in sheep. Despite its harsh temperament, the Tasmanian devil can be tamed and kept as a pet. But just don’t scare him, otherwise he will emit an unpleasant odor.