Tasmanian Devil Added to State's Endangered Species List

The Australian southern island state of Tasmania will place the Tasmanian devil on the endangered species list. The status of the world's largest marsupial carnivore will be changed from vulnerable to endangered in two days.

The population of the devil is decreasing, not because their habitat is shrinking, or as a result of hunting, but because of a fast-spreading head tumor.

The cancer affects the animal's face, and is passed from one animal to another by biting, according to researchers. The face swells up, and becomes infected, preventing the animal from eating, and eventually becoming fatal.

The estimated number of Tasmanian devils in the wild may vary, but they may have fallen from 150,000 in the mid 1990s to 20,000 to 50,000 at the end of 2006, according to the state government.

The animals are reclusive, and very hard to track.

The facial disease is unlike other cancers because it can spread like a contagious disease. Unfortunately, tumor cells aren't rejected by the devil's immune system because of a lack of genetic diversity among devils.

To hopefully spur the growth of healthy Devils, the government plans to back an "insurance population" of healthy devils at wildlife reserves, zoos and other protected areas. If the population gets close enough to extinction, these healthy animals may be able to help breed and re-establish the devil population in the wild.

In honor of the Tasmanian devil, we've gathered some disgustingly cute pictures of the animals for your pleasure. Look away if cute animals make you cringe.