There is a dark cloud hanging over the survival of the Tasmanian Devil. This unique animal is facing the ultimate fate of a species EXTINCTION by the way of a disease. The Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) is an aggressive cancerous tumour which is predominately found on the face which grows rapidy killing the devil within only 3 to 5 months. It is a terrible death through organ failure or starvation.

Tumours in Tasmanian Devils is not a new occurance. Facial and Body tumours have been detected for many years in the species, however they were mainly internal and were not transmittable. NOW THEY ARE!

Somewhere along the line the tumours evolved and became contagious. The disease spread from one devil to another creating an epidemic that is rapidly sweeping through Tasmania at an alarming rate stumping scientist. The Devil Facial Tumour Disease is one of only three cancers in the world that is contagious.

The disease was first detected in 1996 at Mount William National Park in the far north east region of the state and recorded by Dutch Wildlife photographer Christo Bars who was taking photos in the area. The photo was shown to wildlife officer Nick Mooney who recognised that this was a tumour he had not seen before even though cancerous tumours were not uncommon in Devils. No affected animals were detected among the 2000-plus devils trapped by six biologists between 1964 and 1995, this was a new disease.

The disease was announced to the public in 2003. Stating that the Tasmanian Devil was in crises and could face extinction.

The Department of Primary Industries and Water are working closely with research institutes across Australia including the University of Tasmania, University of Sydney, University of Queensland, Murdoch University in Western Australia and Wildlife parks and zoos, to find an answer to what these tumours are. They formed the Devil Disease Program to investigate and identify management problems. The main focuses being:

Population Monitoring - Gathering data in the field to clarify disease distribution and impacts, and to help determine conservation strategies.

Disease Diagnostics - A laboratory-based investigation of the disease, including the definition, transmission, possible causes, and so on. (For latest published research go to www.tassiedevil.com.au)

Wild Management - Establishing methods for managing the impact of the disease in the wild. This includes continuing attempts on the Forestier Tasman Peninsula, in Southern Tasmania, to create a disease-free region.

Captive Management - A captive breeding population with 'founders' taken from areas of the where there hasn't been any record of the disease.

Transmission trials are underway examining the transmission of the disease. Preliminary results support the growing scientific acceptance that the infective agent is a rogue cell-line passed between devils by allograft. In other words the Devil can pass on the disease through fighting and biting where cell tissue is transfered from one devil to another.

Scientists are working to determine what the disease is before they can work out what is causing it. That may sound a little weird, however if you think about it, it is rather logical and makes perfect sense.

Scientist are currently concentrating on the Tasmanian Devils inability to fight the cancer. Looking closely at their immune system. It seems that the Devils immune system is in perfect working order however it is not recognising the cancer cells as foreign and is not producing antibodies to fight them.

Latest finding in December 2007, suggests that Devils may lack genetic diversity. The Devils may be closely related and share very similar genes and DNA due to low populations and inbreeding in the past, which would explain why their immune system is not recognising cells from another Devil transfered by biting as foreign, it would recognise it as being the same. If this is the case, scientist now have to find a way to make the cancer cells visible to their immune system so they will fight it. It is hoped that Devils in the West and North West of the State may have a different DNA makeup.

Nearly all Devils who have succumbed to the disease are usually sexually mature between the ages of two and three years of age. This poses more concern as adult devils are only able to breed once in their life time instead of the usual three, the disease is killing the devils faster than they can repopulate. The population is getting smaller it is also getting younger with the older devils who are more dominant and combative resulting in the transfer of cells and contraction of the disease. The males are usually first to be affected followed by the females, however they are affected equally.

The devils could be adapting with evidence that Devils could possibly be breeding earlier and more often through the year. Young Devils who are weaned from Diseased devils show no sign of the disease at birth and even after 10 years the Devils are not showing any signs of developing any natural immunity to the disease which is not promising.

As at December 2007, 10 years after the first sighting, the Tasmanian Devil disease had spread to 60 separate sites covering 59% of the State. An estimated 64% of Devils are affected with approximately 40% of Devils have died from the disease. At this stage the disease has only affected the the Eastern side of the state. The west and North West of the state is so far unaffected.

The Boomajaril Private Property which is located in the North West of the State is also free of the disease. Reports of the disease is drawing closer with diseased devils being found at Mole Creek and Cradle Mountain. We fear that it won't be long before the disease reaches our doorstep which will be devastating.

It is believed that there may be a natural buffer separating devil populations from the east and the west. With mountain ranges and wide rivers possibly keeping Devils isolated to one side or the other. While this will not stop the disease progressing to the west of the state, it may slow down the spread of the infection and give them a fighting chance.