Can Tasmanian Devils Survive the Threat of Disease?

Quck answer

Tasmanian devils, the iconic marsupials from the island of Tasmania, have been facing extinction due to a contagious facial tumor disease that has been devastating their population since the mid-1990s. However, recent studies show that some devils have developed resistance to the disease and are now fighting back. This natural selection process has given hope to scientists that the species may eventually adapt and survive. Efforts to protect and conserve the remaining devil populations, such as captive breeding and habitat restoration, are also underway. While the future of the Tasmanian devil remains uncertain, there is reason to believe that they may be able to fight their way out of extinction.

Wild Animals

The Tasmanian devil, known for its ferocity, is facing a new threat from a deadly disease. This marsupial is found only in Tasmania, an island state of Australia, and is an important part of the country’s unique wildlife.

Despite being an apex predator, the Tasmanian devil is at risk of extinction due to Devil Facial Tumor Disease (DFTD), a contagious cancer that is transmitted through bites during fighting. In the past two decades, the disease has spread rapidly, causing a decline in the population of Tasmanian devils.

Although Tasmanian devils were once abundant in Tasmania and Australia, they became extinct on the Australian mainland about 500 years ago, probably due to dingoes. On Tasmania, the animals were considered a nuisance as they ate farmers’ chickens and were nearly wiped out too, until they were protected by law in 1941.

Despite their small size – adult males measure barely a foot tall and weigh up to 26 pounds – Tasmanian devils have powerful jaws that can chew through entire bodies, including bone. They feed on the dead flesh of kangaroos, wallabies, possums and even fellow devils. They are also known for their belligerent nature, and when irritated, their ears turn purple, and they release a loud shriek as a warning sign to back off. Their devil-eat-devil lifestyle begins at birth, with female Tasmanian devils producing litters of up to 40 tiny babies. Only the strongest survive, and after weaning, the young devils must set out on their own, or risk being devoured by their mother. From there, they lead mostly solitary lives, except during mating season. Adult devils fight each other readily, inflicting wounds – and sometimes death.

Efforts have been made to protect the Tasmanian devil from DFTD, but the disease is still a major threat to the species. Scientists are working to find a cure for the cancer and to develop a vaccine to prevent its spread. In the meantime, captive breeding programs have been established to ensure the survival of the species.

The Tasmanian devil may be small, but it is an important part of Australia’s unique wildlife, and efforts must be made to save it from extinction.

DFTD, a highly contagious form of cancer that spreads through bites from infected Tasmanian devils, has rapidly spread across Tasmania, affecting all parts of the island except for the western and northwestern regions. The disease begins with a bite from an infected devil, which then develops facial tumors that eventually metastasize and lead to starvation and death within three months to a year. There is currently no known cure for DFTD, which comes in two strains, DFTD1 and DFTD2. At one point, experts feared that DFTD could wipe out the entire Tasmanian devil population, which has already decreased from 140,000 to around 20,000 over the last 25 years. However, many devils have developed resistance to the disease, helping to reduce the decline. Scientists are still concerned about DFTD, which has eradicated 80% of the wild population.

The disease was first observed in 1996 by wildlife photographer Christo Baars, who noticed large lumps around the devils’ mouths and necks. DFTD is one of the few contagious cancers in existence, and it is particularly deadly due to the lack of genetic diversity among Tasmanian devils. The genetic sequencing of DFTD is similar to that of Tasmanian devils, which means that the animals’ immune systems do not recognize the virus as a threat, allowing it to develop into cancer. Scientists have attempted to find a cure for DFTD by injecting devils with live tumor cells to identify those with a stronger immune response, but their efforts have yet to yield significant results.

To prevent Devil Facial Tumor Disease (DFTD) from spreading among Tasmanian devils, researchers are exploring vaccination as a solution. After conducting numerous studies to test the effectiveness of various vaccines, 19 immunized devils were released into Narawntapu National Park in March 2020. These devils will be closely monitored to determine the success of the immunization process. Most of the devils had already exhibited an immune response during laboratory tests (University of Tasmania).

In 2003, the Tasmanian State Government established a program called Save the Tasmanian Devil, which created an insurance population of 700 animals across 44 institutions in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and America. The program has been successful in captive breeding and also initiated a campaign that urged drivers to slow down at night and developed virtual fence devices that warn animals of approaching cars. More than 350 devils are killed each year by motorists.

The extinction of Tasmanian devils would have a profound impact on the island’s ecology, as these carnivorous marsupials help control the populations of cats and foxes. If devils disappeared, the numbers of these predators would skyrocket, causing the extinction of over a dozen other species, including birds and lizards. Additionally, devils act as scavengers, removing sick and dead animals from the landscape.

Fortunately, Tasmanian devils seem to be adapting to DFTD, with wild animals fighting off tumors entirely. The Tasmanian devils that are capable of fighting off the disease are the ones that reproduce, causing a ripple effect that may help eradicate the disease completely within the next 100 years. While the devil population is still far from what it was in the 1990s, the decline appears to be leveling off.

Additional Information

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• Why Do Kangaroos Hop?
• What Sets Wallabies Apart From Kangaroos?

More Useful Links

• Save the Tasmanian Devil
• Tasmanian Government

Sources

• “Bedeviled by Disease.” The Washington Post. April 15, 2008. (Dec. 17, 2008) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/14/AR2008041402486.html
• “Dying Tasmanian devils turn to teen pregnancies.” New Scientist. July 19, 2008. (Dec. 17, 2008)http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19926655.600-dying-tasmanian-devils-turn-to-teen-pregnancies.html
• Gough, Myles. “Bringing the Tasmanian devil back to mainland Australia would restore ecosystem health.” Phys.org. Aug. 11, 2015 (April 20, 2020) https://phys.org/news/2015-08-tasmanian-devil-mainland-australia-ecosystem.html
• “Possible vaccine for dying devils.” Australian Geographic. July – September 2008.
• National Geographic. “Tasmanian Devil.” 2020 (April 20, 2020) https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/t/tasmanian-devil/
• Quammen, David. “What’s Killing the Tasmanian Devil?” Yale Environment 360. Oct. 16, 2008. (April 20, 2020) https://e360.yale.edu/features/whats_killing_the_tasmanian_devil
• ScienceDaily. “Tasmanian Devil Cancer Unlikely to Cause Extinction, say experts.” Jan. 23, 2019 (April 20, 2020) https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/01/190123191634.htm
• Tasmanian Government. “Tasmanian Devil.” 2020 (April 20, 2020) https://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/wildlife-management/fauna-of-tasmania/mammals/carnivorous-marsupials-and-bandicoots/tasmanian-devil
• Timmins, Beth. “Tasmanian devils ‘adapting to coexist with cancer.’” BBC News. March 30, 2019 (April 20, 2020) https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-47659640
• Trofimov, Yaroslav. “Tasmanian Devils Get Reprieve in Australia’s Old Penal Colony.” The Wall Street Journal. May 28, 2008.
• University of Cambridge. “Tasmanian devil facial tumour disease.” 2020 (April 20, 2020) https://www.tcg.vet.cam.ac.uk/about/DFTD
• Woods,Gregory M and Samantha Fox, Andrew S Flies, Cesar D Tovar, Menna Jones, Rodrigo Hamede, David Pemberton, A Bruce Lyons and Silvana S Bettiol. “Two Decades of the Impact of Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumor Disease.” Integrative and Comparative Biology. Dec. 2018 (April 20, 2020) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6927850/

FAQ

1. What is the current status of Tasmanian devils in the wild?

Tasmanian devils have been listed as endangered since 2008, with their population declining due to a contagious facial tumor disease that has killed around 80% of the wild population. However, recent efforts to control the disease and establish insurance populations have given hope for their survival.

2. How is the facial tumor disease affecting Tasmanian devils?

The facial tumor disease is a contagious cancer that spreads when Tasmanian devils bite each other’s faces during fights. The tumors grow rapidly and interfere with feeding, leading to starvation and death. The disease has caused a huge decline in Tasmanian devil populations, with some areas losing up to 90% of their devils.

3. What measures are being taken to save Tasmanian devils?

Efforts to save Tasmanian devils include establishing insurance populations in mainland Australia and on islands off the coast of Tasmania, as well as vaccinating wild and captive devils against the facial tumor disease. There are also programs to monitor and control the spread of the disease, as well as research into genetics, behavior, and ecology of Tasmanian devils.

4. Are Tasmanian devils being reintroduced into the wild?

Yes, some Tasmanian devils are being reintroduced into the wild in areas where the disease has been controlled or eradicated. These reintroductions are carefully managed and monitored to ensure the devils’ survival and to prevent the spread of the disease.

5. Can Tasmanian devils be kept as pets?

No, Tasmanian devils are wild animals and not suitable as pets. They are also protected under Australian law, and it is illegal to keep them without a permit.

6. What is the role of zoos in saving Tasmanian devils?

Zoos play an important role in saving Tasmanian devils by participating in captive breeding programs and establishing insurance populations. Zoos also contribute to research into the disease and the ecology of Tasmanian devils, and educate the public about the importance of conservation.

7. What can individuals do to help save Tasmanian devils?

Individuals can help save Tasmanian devils by supporting conservation organizations, such as the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, and by not disturbing or feeding wild devils. They can also spread awareness about the plight of Tasmanian devils and the importance of protecting wildlife and their habitats.