Most of us are probably most familiar with the Tasmanian Devil as a somewhat cute, if angry and destructive, cartoon character on Looney Tunes. But the Tasmanian Devil is a real animal, a marsupial carnivore found only in (surprise, surprise) Tasmania, Australia.

His reputation for a nasty temper is largely undeserved. Tasmanian Devils are, in reality, shy and timid creatures, whose wild displays when feeding on a carcass are intended only to scare off those who would compete for its meal. If they can avoid a fight, they will. They are also nocturnal, hiding where they can during the day and scrounging for meat once the sun goes down.

Resembling small dogs, the Tasmanian Devils have broad heads and thick tails, powerful jaws and sharp teeth. Coarse black fur is often marked with irregular white blazes across the shoulders, chest, or rump.

They were given their names by English settlers who were frightened of their harsh cries at night, imagining horrific beasts lurking in the shadows. But Tasmanian Devils aren't really dangerous to humans (though they will defend themselves if backed into a corner), and they are the iconic animal of Tasmania.

But this unique creature, immortalized in American cartoon, is now threatened by a disease that is dramatically decreasing population numbers, and causing grave concern that they are the path to extinction. A disease called Devil Facial Tumor Disease (DFTD) has broken out among the native Tasmanian Devil population, causing tumors around the mouth and head that eventually cause the animal's death. Scientists aren't sure where this disease came from, and do not yet have a means of curing it. But one thing is certain: if a cure isn't found, the Tasmanian Devil may be a creature of the past, like the DoDo and the Messenger Pigeon.

DFTD is one of only three known cancers that are contagious, spreading from one infected Devil to any other he comes in contact with. This is a large part of why this disease is proving so difficult to fight; the other being that the Devil's immune system does not recognize the DFTD cancer cells as being an infectious disease that should be combated. Death comes from starvation and breakdown of body functions, as the tumors make it difficult to eat or swallow.

Recognizing the possibility that the wild Tasmanian Devil population is vulnerable to extinction, 'Project Ark' was begun to preserve the species in captivity. Forty-eight healthy Devils were captured and sent to selected Zoos in mainland Australia; a few of these Devils are already breeding. While this is encouraging, more needs to be done to save these animals. Among the plans to do more is the move of thirty healthy wild Devils to Maria Island off the east coast of Tasmania - a proposal that has sparked a lot of controversy due to the presence of several endangered birds and the endangered stag beetle on the island. But it is generally perceived in the scientific community that this move is the only way to preserve the wild Tasmanian Devils. Current estimates suggest the wild population on Tasmania will be extinct within 20 years.

If you've ever wanted to see a Tasmanian Devil in the wild, now would be the time to visit Tasmania. In northwest Tasmania, where the disease first broke out, the number of Devil sightings has dropped 89% in the sighting surveys conducted in 2002-05 from the previous surveys in 1992-95, according to the Department of Primary Industries and Water. Statewide, the decline is 53%.

That does not mean all hope is lost if you wish to view a wild Tasmanian Devil. There are a few tour operators who specialize in tours of Tasmanian Wildlife, and they know where to go. As with all wildlife viewings, there's no guarantee of course - but the Wildlife Tour Specialists give you the best chances of doing so.

But with no known cure, and the inability of the Devil's natural immune system to fight the cancer, it seems likely that this cute little carnivore might someday soon be a creature of the past, and our own children and grandchildren may think he is only a character on a Saturday morning cartoon.