vegetation associated with the mounds, they also reduce the shelter available for kowari prey. There is strong evidence that overstocking of cattle has reduced kowari abundances at some sites, and possibly led to their extirpation at others. Kowaris now have a highly fragmented population, with a high proportion of the subpopulations likely to be un-viable in the face of current threats. Diseases in captivity Captive kowari are known to be associated with oral squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). The SCCs cause tumours to invade the oral cavity of the kowari and begin to cause swelling in the gums. Prior to tumour formation, periodontal diseases are heavily present in the oral cavity. Captive kowaris are not expected to survive if SCCs spread into other regions of the body. References External links Animal Info on the Kowari Mammals described in 1896 Taxa named by Walter Baldwin Spencer Dasyuromorphs Mammals of South Australia Mammals of the Northern Territory Mammals of Queensland Marsupials of Australia Vulnerable fauna of Australia