Famed Tasmanian devil euthanized after tumor found

Associated Press ^ | Sept. 1, 2010 | KRISTEN GELINEAU

[Free ThinkerNY]

SYDNEY (AP) -- A Tasmanian devil named Cedric, once thought to be immune to a contagious facial cancer threatening the iconic creatures with extinction, has been euthanized after succumbing to the disease, researchers said Wednesday.

The death of the devil - previously heralded as a possible key to saving the species - is another blow for scientists struggling to stop the rapid spread of the cancer, which is transmitted when the furry black marsupials bite each other.

[Hoosier-Daddy]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but did they not, in fact, give him the cancer in the first place? Is this another version of Obamacare, for goodness sake?

[Clint N. Suhks]

Hopie and Changie “Death Panels”?

[wastedyears]

Sometimes you just need to let go.

[DC Bound]

In 2007, Menzies researchers injected Cedric and his half brother Clinky with facial cancer cells. Clinky developed the disease, but Cedric showed an immune response and grew no tumors - giving researchers hope that he could help them create a vaccine.

From the story...

[Beowulf9]

They should remove a male and a female without the cancer and separate them, keeping them healthy and artifically inseminate the female from the male, producing offspring and ensuring the species until they decide upon a course of medical management that will be successful.

[caver]

You know, these scientists have to have something to do.