Choice of carnivorous marsupial expected to raise awareness of facial tumour disease that has devastated Tasmanian devils

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Every state and territory of Australia except Tasmania has an animal emblem. New South Wales has the platypus, Queensland the koala and Victoria the possum.

When it comes to animal emblems, every state and territory has one except Tasmania. So the people of the island state have been asked to have their say: should the Tasmanian devil receive the honour?

The state’s environment minister, Matthew Groom, thinks the carnivorous marsupial fits the bill. “We believe it can only be a positive for Tasmania’s brand to be officially associated with this unique creature which is recognised around the world,” he said.

Promoting the species is expected to raise awareness and assistance for a debilitating facial tumour which has hit devil numbers over the past decade.

Tasmanians have until 22 February to have their say about the devil becoming the state’s animal emblem. A website has been set up providing more information.

If chosen, the devil will stand beside Tasmania’s floral emblem, the Tasmanian blue gum, and its mineral emblem, crocoite.



Australian animal and bird emblems

Australian Capital Territory: gang-gang cockatoo



New South Wales: platypus and kookaburra



Northern Territory: red kangaroo and wedge-tailed eagle



Queensland: koala and brolga



South Australia: hairy-nosed wombat



Victoria: Leadbeater’s possum and helmeted honeyeater



Western Australia: numbat and black swan