Editing Tasmanian devil (section)

==Relationship with humans==
At [[Lake Nitchie]] in western [[New South Wales]] in 1970, a male human skeleton wearing a necklace of 178 teeth from 49 different devils was found. The skeleton is estimated to be 7000 years old, and the necklace is believed to be much older than the skeleton. Archaeologist [[Josephine Flood]] believes the devil was hunted for its teeth and that this contributed to its extinction on mainland Australia. Owen and Pemberton note that few such necklaces have been found.<ref>Owen and Pemberton, p. 42.</ref> [[Midden]]s that contain devil bones are rare—two notable examples are [[Devil's Lair]] in the south-western part of Western Australia and [[Tower Hill State Game Reserve|Tower Hill]] in Victoria.<ref>Owen and Pemberton, p. 41.</ref> In Tasmania, [[Tasmanian Aboriginals|local Indigenous Australians]] and devils sheltered in the same caves. Tasmanian Aboriginal names for the devil recorded by Europeans include "tarrabah", "poirinnah", and "par-loo-mer-rer".<ref>Owen and Pemberton, p. 3.</ref> Variations also exist, such as "Taraba" and "purinina".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Taraba : Tasmanian Aboriginal Stories|url=https://www.ncacl.org.au/atsi_resource/taraba-tasmanian-aboriginal-stories/|access-date=2020-10-07|website=NCACL|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-08-15|title=Native animals should be rechristened with their Aboriginal names|url=https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/wildlife/2017/08/native-animals-should-be-renamed-with-their-aboriginal-names/|access-date=2020-10-07|website=Australian Geographic|language=en-AU}}</ref>

It is a common belief that devils will eat humans. While they are known to eat dead bodies, there are prevalent myths that they eat living humans who wander into the bush.<ref>Owen and Pemberton, p. 10.</ref> Despite outdated beliefs and exaggerations regarding their disposition, many, although not all, devils will remain still when in the presence of a human; some will also shake nervously. They can bite and scratch out of fear when held by a human, but a firm grip will cause them to remain still.<ref>Owen and Pemberton, pp. 15–18.</ref> Although they can be tamed, they are asocial, and are not considered appropriate as pets;<ref name="Owen and Pemberton-25"/> they have an unpleasant odour, and neither demonstrate nor respond to affection.<ref>Owen and Pemberton, p. 113.</ref>

Until recently, the devil was not studied much by academics and naturalists.<ref name="Owen and Pemberton-4"/> At the start of the 20th century, Hobart zoo operator Mary Roberts, who was not a trained scientist, was credited for changing people's attitudes and encouraging scientific interest in native animals (such as the devil) that were seen as fearsome and abhorrent, and the human perception of the animal changed.<ref name=orob/> [[Theodore Thomson Flynn]] was the first professor of biology in Tasmania, and carried out some research during the period around World War I.<ref>Owen and Pemberton, pp. 93–97.</ref> In the mid-1960s, Professor Guiler assembled a team of researchers and started a decade of systematic fieldwork on the devil. This is seen as the start of modern scientific study of it.<ref>Owen and Pemberton, pp. 99–101.</ref> However, the devil was still negatively depicted, including in tourism material.<ref name="Owen and Pemberton-99"/> The first doctorate awarded for research into the devil came in 1991.<ref name="Owen and Pemberton-4">Owen and Pemberton, p. 4.</ref>

===In captivity===
[[File:Sarcophilus harrisii -Healesville Sanctuary-8a.jpg|thumb|At [[Healesville Sanctuary]], Victoria|alt=A devil with red ears and white patches under its neck, is standing on some bark chips, in front of some grass and behind a rock of the size of its body.]]
Early attempts to breed Tasmanian devils in captivity had limited success. Mary Roberts bred a pair at [[Beaumaris Zoo]] (which she named Billy and Truganini) in 1913. However, although advised to remove Billy, Roberts found Truganini too distressed by his absence, and returned him. The first litter was presumed eaten by Billy, but a second litter in 1914 survived, after Billy was removed. Roberts wrote an article on keeping and breeding the devils for the [[London Zoological Society]].<ref name=orob>Owen and Pemberton, pp. 84–93.</ref> Even by 1934, successful breeding of the devil was rare.<ref>Owen and Pemberton, pp. 67–69.</ref> In a study on the growth of young devils in captivity, some developmental stages were very different from those reported by Guiler. The pinnae were free on day 36, and eyes opened later, on days 115–121.<ref name=Phillips2003/> In general, females tend to retain more stress after being taken into captivity than males.<ref name=Jones2005/>

Tasmanian devils were displayed in various zoos around the world from the 1850s onwards.<ref>Owen and Pemberton, p. 132.</ref> In the 1950s several animals were given to European zoos.<ref>Owen and Pemberton, pp. 101–2.</ref> In October 2005 the Tasmanian government sent four devils, two male and two female, to the [[Copenhagen Zoo]], following the birth of the [[Christian, Crown Prince of Denmark|first son]] of [[Frederik X|King Frederik X of Denmark]] and his Tasmanian-born wife [[Queen Mary of Denmark|Mary]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/marys-little-devils/2006/04/11/1144521306868.html|date=11 April 2006|access-date=14 September 2010|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|title=Mary's little devils}}</ref> Due to restrictions on their export by the Australian government, at the time these were the only devils known to be living outside Australia.<ref name=fed/> In June 2013, due to the successes of the insurance population program, it was planned to send devils to other zoos around the world in a pilot program.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ambassador Devils for Overseas Zoos|url=http://www.tassiedevil.com.au/tasdevil.nsf/TheProgram/25ED286F84111687CA257B940000CBF4?OpenDocument|publisher=Save the Tasmanian Devil|access-date=30 November 2014|archive-date=13 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313125019/http://www.tassiedevil.com.au/tasdevil.nsf/TheProgram/25ED286F84111687CA257B940000CBF4?OpenDocument|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance]] and [[Albuquerque Biological Park|Albuquerque Biopark]] were selected to participate in the program,<ref>{{cite web|title=First overseas zoos selected for ambassador devils |url=http://www.tassiedevil.com.au/tasdevil.nsf/TheProgram/204F7A6644F6B28DCA257BD9007E6911 |publisher=Save the Tasmanian Devil |access-date=30 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904025041/http://www.tassiedevil.com.au/tasdevil.nsf/TheProgram/204F7A6644F6B28DCA257BD9007E6911 |archive-date=4 September 2015 }}</ref> and [[Wellington Zoo]] and [[Auckland Zoo]] soon followed.<ref>{{cite web|title=Auckland Zoo helps raise awareness of Tasmanian devils |url=http://www.tassiedevil.com.au/tasdevil.nsf/TheProgram/219544C610F00ACBCA257CD6000520C8 |publisher=Save the Tasmanian Devil |access-date=30 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904025041/http://www.tassiedevil.com.au/tasdevil.nsf/TheProgram/219544C610F00ACBCA257CD6000520C8 |archive-date=4 September 2015 }}</ref> In the United States, four additional zoos have since been selected as part of the Australian government's Save the Tasmanian Devil program, the zoos selected were: the [[Fort Wayne Children's Zoo]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://kidszoo.org/tasmanian-devils-returning-to-zoo/|title=Tasmanian Devils Returning to Zoo|date=January 27, 2015|website=kidszoo.org|publisher=Fort Wayne Children's Zoo|access-date=2016-07-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603224256/http://kidszoo.org/tasmanian-devils-returning-to-zoo/|archive-date=3 June 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> the [[Los Angeles Zoo]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lazoo.org/2015/12/tasmanian-devils/|title=Tasmanian Devils are Back at the L.A. Zoo After 20 Years!|date=December 14, 2015|website=lazoo.org|publisher=Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens|access-date=July 24, 2016|archive-date=20 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320132142/https://www.lazoo.org/2015/12/tasmanian-devils/|url-status=dead}}</ref> the [[Saint Louis Zoo]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/new-to-the-st-louis-zoo-tasmanian-devils/article_eb49ad3d-1382-5228-ad8f-4ca0f8ae2e19.html|title=New to the St. Louis Zoo: Tasmanian devils|last=Bock|first=Jessica|date=April 20, 2016|website=stltoday.com|publisher=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|access-date=2016-07-24}}</ref> and the [[Toledo Zoo]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2015/09/06/Toledo-Zoo-joins-effortto-save-Tasmanian-devils.html|title=Toledo Zoo joins effort to save Tasmanian devils|last=Mester|first=Alexandra|date=September 6, 2015|website=The Blade|access-date=2016-07-24}}</ref> Captive devils are usually forced to stay awake during the day to cater to visitors, rather than following their natural nocturnal style.<ref>Owen and Pemberton, p. 133.</ref>

===In popular culture===
[[File:Taz Looney Tunes parade.jpg|right|thumb|Warner Bros' Tasmanian Devil "Taz" at a parade in California|alt=A black open-top sports car with lights on is being driven down an asphalt road. A large furry toy costume, slightly larger than a human is standing in the back seat. It has cream coloured mouth and chest, and dark brown arms and forehead, large whiskers, a grin, large white eyes and two canines. Behind him are some men walking in green costumes. On the left is a crowd watching the parade from the footpath, in front of tall buildings with stone arches.]]
The devil is an iconic animal within Australia, and particularly associated with Tasmania. The animal is used as the emblem of the [[Tasmanian National Parks and Wildlife Service]],<ref name=DPIWEweb1/> and the former Tasmanian Australian rules football team which played in the [[Victorian Football League]] was known as the [[Tasmania Devils Football Club (VFL)|Devils]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.tassiedevil.com.au/tasdevil.nsf/downloads/D595436FECB69A66CA2576ED0083D3F6/$file/DevilNews_June_2008.pdf|date=June 2008|access-date=6 October 2010|work=Save the Tasmanian Devil|title=Welcome|page=1|archive-date=17 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110217185140/http://www.tassiedevil.com.au/tasdevil.nsf/downloads/D595436FECB69A66CA2576ED0083D3F6/$file/DevilNews_June_2008.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Hobart Devils]] were once part of the [[National Basketball League (Australia)|National Basketball League]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nbl.com.au/award-winners/ |title=Most Valuable Player |publisher=[[National Basketball League (Australasia)|National Basketball League]] |access-date=4 September 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222082507/http://www.nbl.com.au/award-winners/ |archive-date=22 December 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The devil has appeared on several [[Coins of the Australian dollar#Collectable coins|commemorative coins]] in Australia over the years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.perthmint.com.au/catalogue/2009-celebrate-australia-1-coin-tasmania.aspx|publisher=The Perth Mint|title=2009 Celebrate Australia $1 coin – Tasmania|access-date=6 October 2010|archive-date=10 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101010000538/http://www.perthmint.com.au/catalogue/2009-celebrate-australia-1-coin-tasmania.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://mintissue.ramint.gov.au/mintissue/product.asp?code=802152 |publisher=Royal Australian Mint |title=2010 $5 Gold Proof Tinga Tasmanian Devil |access-date=6 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100813182845/http://mintissue.ramint.gov.au/mintissue/product.asp?code=802152 |archive-date=13 August 2010 }}</ref> [[Cascade Brewery]] in Tasmania sells a [[ginger beer]] with a Tasmanian devil on the label.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fostersgroup.com/brands/cascade-ginger-beer.aspx |title=Cascade Ginger Beer |access-date=6 October 2010 |publisher=[[Foster's Group]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100609022137/http://www.fostersgroup.com/brands/cascade-ginger-beer.aspx |archive-date=9 June 2010 }}</ref> In 2015, the Tasmanian devil was chosen as Tasmania's [[Symbols of Tasmania|state emblem]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Tasmania backs the devil as the state emblem despite endangered status|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-31/tasmania-backs-the-devil-as-the-state-emblem/6510228|access-date=31 May 2015|work=ABC News|date=31 May 2015}}</ref>

Tasmanian devils are popular with tourists, and the director of the Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park has described their possible extinction as "a really significant blow for Australian and Tasmanian tourism".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tasmaniandevilpark.com/news.html |title=World tourism can help save the Tasmanian Devil, park director tells international conference |date=5 June 2008 |access-date=6 October 2010 |publisher=Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090914043540/http://www.tasmaniandevilpark.com/news.html |archive-date=14 September 2009 }}</ref> There has also been a multimillion-dollar proposal to build a giant 19&nbsp;m-high, 35&nbsp;m-long devil in [[Launceston, Tasmania|Launceston]] in northern Tasmania as a tourist attraction.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|url=http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2006/s1561675.htm|author=Jeanes, Tim|title=Giant Tassie Devil tourist attraction in danger|date=3 February 2006|access-date=6 October 2010}}</ref> Devils began to be used as [[ecotourism]] in the 1970s, when studies showed that the animals were often the only things known about Tasmania overseas, and suggested that they should therefore be the centrepiece of marketing efforts, resulting in some devils being taken on promotional tours.<ref>Owen and Pemberton, pp. 122–124.</ref>

The Tasmanian devil is probably best known internationally as the inspiration for the ''Looney Tunes'' cartoon character [[Tasmanian Devil (Looney Tunes)|the Tasmanian Devil]], or "Taz" in 1954. Little known at the time, the loud hyperactive cartoon character has little in common with the real life animal.<ref>Owen and Pemberton, p. 12.</ref> After a few shorts between 1957 and 1964, the character was retired until the 1990s, when he gained his own show, ''[[Taz-Mania]]'', and again became popular.<ref>Owen and Pemberton, pp. 156–160.</ref> In 1997, a newspaper report noted that [[Warner Bros.]] had "trademarked the character and registered the name Tasmanian Devil", and that this trademark "was policed", including an eight-year legal case to allow a Tasmanian company to call a fishing lure "Tasmanian Devil". Debate followed, and a delegation from the Tasmanian government met with Warner Bros.<ref>Owen and Pemberton, pp. 161–164.</ref> [[Ray Groom]], the Tourism Minister, later announced that a "verbal agreement" had been reached. An annual fee would be paid to Warner Bros. in return for the Government of Tasmania being able to use the image of Taz for "marketing purposes". This agreement later disappeared.<ref>Owen and Pemberton, pp. 167, 169.</ref> In 2006, Warner Bros. permitted the Government of Tasmania to sell stuffed toys of Taz with profits funnelled into research on DFTD.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Warner-Bros-to-help-save-Tassie-devils/2006/06/20/1150701535616.html|title=Warner Bros to help save Tassie devils|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=20 June 2006|access-date=30 September 2010}}</ref>