Living With Devils (ATOM Study Guide)

NB: This study guide includes both a full guide as well as a condensed Grab and Go version.

Narrated by naturalist and filmmaker Simon Plowright, Living With Devils takes us into the complex lives of the Tasmanian devil and the last healthy habitat of these uniquely Tasmanian creatures. Amid this awe-inspiring landscape, we are told of the threat to the lives of devils from the incurable contagious cancer known as DFTD (Devil Facial Tumour Disease), sweeping across the land. The lives of these currently healthy and disease-free animals are on the way to changing forever. With so much harm done to devils by mankind’s irrational dislike of them over the years, this new threat is one more threat to their very existence.

However, a ray of hope appears in the potential for survival of the devil. Scientists have found that a handful of devils have shown resistance to the disease. Females are managing to live a year longer, allowing them to produce another litter of baby devils. Without this adaptation, devils would disappear forever, but they’re going to need all the help they can get.

Curriculum Links:

Living With Devils can be linked to the following subject areas within the Australian Curriculum:

• Years 7–10 Science
• Years 7–10 English
• Year 11 Geography, Unit 1
• Year 11–12 English/EAL
• Year 10 Media Arts and Film Studies