Has DFTD reached Boomajaril?

Photo © Robin Thoy

The only troubles the Devils at Boomajaril have had to face has been the destruction of their habitat and the poisoning of their main source of food from clear fell logging in the surrounding properties. Boomajaril has been like a santuary for Devils and Quolls and we have been lucky not to also be affected by the devasting cancer Devil Facial Tumour Disease which is wiping out the Devil population at an alarming rate in the East of the state.

But could this be the end of Paradise. Has DFTD finally reached our doorstep.

In February 2008. Two devils came up on the verandah with lumps on their faces. Now this isn't really an unusual occurance as we have devils coming up on the verandah with lumps and infections all the time which turn out to be abscesses. Well that's what we always put them down to as they always healed. But what if we were wrong? What if these devils had the disease and were fighting it.

The recent devils who have been visiting us, got me curious so I sent photos through to the Department of Primary Industries and Water. I got an almost instant reply and they suspect that the Devil does have DFTD but of course they were only going by a photo and until tests are carried out in our area then we cannot be sure.

These two Devils we had not seen before, they were rogue and we believe that with so little rain and the rivers being so low that maybe infected Devils had managed to cross over. But of course that is just a theory.

We have been monitoring the Devils and only one has been frequenting the property regularly in search of food. Below are photos of the progression of the sore on her face. We are still not sure if it is the disease or a very bad abscess.

Started as a lump	Split open to reveal a sore
The sore grew and appears to be infected	The sore appears to be healing

Latest sightings give the indication that the sore is shrinking and possibly healing. If this proves to be the disease then our Devils are fighting it - maybe all the devils we thought had abasses actually had the disease and healed, check out the photos below and judge for yourself.

Female Devil - 2006. Healed from sores on face and torso.

We hope desperately that this is not the disease and that our Devils carry the MHC which will give them the ability to fight the disease. Because the thought of looking out our large atrium window at the Devils on the Verandah and watch them slowly dying is too painful to think about.

Story by Debbie Thoy
Photos © Robin Thoy