What do we know about the disease
Mapping the spread of the disease
Devil listed as “endangered”
Insurance Population grows further
Interlinked strategies for insurance population
Forum presentations
Frequently asked questions
Tasmanian devils with large facial tumours were photographed in north-east Tasmania during 1996. A decade later, we know these characteristics are consistent with Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) - a fatal condition in Tasmanian devils, characterised by cancers around the mouth and head.
As at December 2008, the Tasmanian devil disease had been confirmed at 64 different locations across more than 60% of Tasmania's mainland.
See the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program information on the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries and Water website.
What we know about the disease
The Tasmanian devil disease is a new disease, an infectious cancer, that is restricted to Tasmanian devils.
No affected animals were reported among the 2000-plus Tasmanian devils trapped by wildlife biologists between 1964 and 1995.
Once the cancer becomes visible, it always appears to be fatal - usually within three months. Small lesions, or lumps, in and around the mouth quickly develop into large tumours on the face and neck (and sometimes other parts of the body).
Tasmanian devils with facial tumours find it difficult to eat. Death results from starvation and the breakdown of body functions.
In diseased areas, nearly all the Tasmanian devils that are sexually mature (older than two years of age) become infected and succumb to the disease. Juveniles as young as one year old can also be infected.
Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) is extremely unusual as it is only one of three recorded cancers that can spread like a contagious disease. The cancer is passed from devil to devil through biting. The live tumour cells aren’t rejected by the animal’s immune system because of a lack of genetic diversity among Tasmanian devils.
For this reason, cases continue to occur in areas where the disease had not previously been recorded. As at February 2009, there has been a 70% decline in average sightings across Tasmania from 1992-95 to 2003-06. In the north-east region, where signs of the Tasmanian devil disease were first reported, there has been a 95% (approximately) decline of average spotlighting sightings from 1992-95 to 2002-05.
It is uncommon for wildlife diseases to lead directly to population extinction in the absence of other severe threats. But to date, there had not been any evidence of population or individual resistance or recovery from the disease.
LEFT: Map showing known distribution of DFTD in Tasmania
There are concerns that the drastic fall in population may allow introduced predators such as feral cats and foxes to move into the Tasmanian devil's niche. If this occurs there could be a wider impact on Tasmania's unique wildlife.
In May 2009, the Australian Government uplisted the Tasmanian devil from “Vulnerable” to “Endangered” under national environmental law.
Tasmania’s Threatened Species Act 1995 has also listed the devil as “Endangered” since May 2008. Federal Environment Minister, Peter Garrett, said the species was under continued threat, but that the uplisting would provide it with greater protection.
“Fortunately, strong action is being taken to find out more about the Devil Facial Tumour Disease and to stop its spread,” Mr Garrett said.
“The Australian Government has already committed $10 million over five years to the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program. This is to help with research into disease transmission and treatment, and to support captive and wild populations.”
Sightings of the devil have declined by 70% since before 1996, when DFTD was first observed. As at May 2009, DFTD is found across more than 60% of Tasmania.
In September 2006, DFTD was gazetted under the Animal Health Act 1995 as a List B notifiable disease. The Tasmanian devil has also been listed as “Endangered” on the Red List of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) – widely considered the most authoritative and objective system for classifying species in terms of their risk of extinction.
The Save the Tasmanian Devil Program’s (STTDP) Insurance Population, which it manages through partnerships with zoos and wildlife parks, increased by another 30 animals during December 2008. The devils were collected as part of the western intake in early 2008, and they went to three zoos that are already caring for Insurance Population devils.
Recently, hopes of a natural immune response in devils were dashed when the University of Tasmania confirmed that a devil previously thought to be resistant to Devil Facial Tumour Disease developed the cancer. STTDP Manager Andrew Sharman said this example highlighted the need for implementing a range of responses to the disease threat.
“There is no single, simple solution to what research has shown is an evolving disease,” he said.
The Program has taken advice from the Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria (ARAZPA), which helped the program develop the strategy guiding the Insurance Population, to identify suitable places for the devils.
The 30 devils went to Healesville Sanctuary, Taronga Zoo and the Australian Reptile Park on the mainland, ARAZPA has also arranged for other zoos to assist in the insurance program.
The placement of the Insurance Population devils, combined with successful breeding during the past year, means the Program now has a captive population of almost 170 animals. The devils are held in Tasmania and in other parts of Australia.
Andrew said members of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program team recently took part in a Population and Habitat Viability Assessment workshop which helped to identify options to further enhance conservation efforts.
The option that shows potential is free-range enclosures, where there is less need to intensively manage animals.
“As there is very little currently known about managing Tasmanian devils under free-ranging conditions, we will need to work through issues such as the size of enclosures, number of animals within enclosures, den construction and food sources to give us the best opportunities for success,” said Andrew.
The feasibility of other options, such as fencing of wild areas, is also being evaluated.
Interlinked strategies for insurance population
A series of interlinked conservation activities to build on the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program’s Insurance Strategy were proposed by an international workshop held in Hobart in July, 2008.
The Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG) was flown in from the US by the Taronga Conservation Society to facilitate the workshop, which used the collective knowledge of scientists, habitat managers, researchers, wildlife agencies, universities, zoos, traditional land managers, and State and Federal Governments to further develop the insurance population strategy in place for the program.
"Our aim has been to develop strategies on top of those already in place that will ensure the survival of the Tasmanian devil in the wild through building on ‘insurance’ populations to protect them from the disease," said Dr Onnie Byers, CBSG executive director.
"This has been a particularly complex process in that our computer modelling is predicting that there is no single action that may save Tasmanian devils, therefore a range of targeted conservation activities is essential.
"This group of experts has devised a series of interlinking programs that can be implemented simultaneously to protect devils in their wild habitats and also preserve the genetic diversity of the species."
The workshop was hosted by the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries and Water (DPIW), and funded by the Taronga Conservation Society Australia.
"Through the CBSG process, we’ve assessed a combination of solutions, from zoo-based ‘insurance’ breeding programs on the mainland and away from the disease, to large protected areas where devils can be managed to maintain their genetic health," said Dr Rebecca Spindler, the head of Taronga’s conservation and research.
"We’ve also looked at the possibility of fencing or allocating areas where disease-free wild populations can be protected.
"These comprehensive, linked plans have been formulated to guide immediate action for devils and will now be presented to the Tasmanian State and Federal governments for their endorsement."
It is only the second time this conservation planning process has been used in Australia. The first, a success, was for the Striped Legless Lizard.
CBSG has an impressive track record and has coordinated plans for the recovery of the critically endangered Red Wolf in the US and Tree Kangaroo in Papua New Guinea.
Forum presentations
The scientific forum held in Hobart during February 2007 provided an opportunity for a wide range of wildlife biologists, disease experts and other scientists involved in research projects to evaluate what has been learned about the disease so far and identify actions for the future. Read the abstracts from the forum. (PDF 349 KB).
A series of public presentations took place May - September 2007 to provide the wider community with the opportunity to hear directly from scientists involved in projects aimed at conserving the species in the wild. You can listen to the Public Lecture series recordings online.
- Search for information:
Search the Tasmanian Devil Information Database for scholarly papers and media resources relating to devils.
- Communique - Save the Tasmanian Devil Program: On 21 April 2008, the Steering Committee of the Save the Tasmanian Devil program met in Hobart to oversee delivery of the program. The Committee endorsed significant changes to the risk categorisation for captive Tasmanian devils and to the biosecurity guidelines recommended by the Tasmanian Chief Veterinary Officer. These changes were based on improved understanding of the Devil Facial Tumour Disease and greater confidence about the way in which the disease may be transmitted.
The Committee considered a Scientific Research Strategy prepared by the Senior Scientist for the program and endorsed it, subject to some minor changes. The endorsed Risk Categorisation, Biosecurity Guidelines and Scientific Research Strategy will soon be posted on the program’s website www.tassiedevil.com.au
The Committee considered a new Communication Strategy for the program that will ensure that all communication about the program is integrated, timely and informative. Following some minor changes, the Strategy will be endorsed and made publicly available.
The Committee were pleased to receive reports on the status of the 31 outputs that comprise the program, and noted the significant progress being made.
At the next meeting of the Committee in July 2008, a 5 year Business Plan will be considered that will detail the plans for the coming year and beyond to ensure that every effort is made to ensure that the Tasmanian devil survives in the wild in Tasmania.
The Committee noted with regret the retirement of the program manager Steven Smith, and thanked him for his contribution to the program over the past 2 years. It is expected that the position will soon be filled and that there will be a seamless continuation of program management.
Also see other Communiques from the Steering Committee and further information about the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program.
Recent and significant scientific developments and publications
- Pinkies were confirmed among our Insurance Population animals at the Devil Island free-range enclosure, on the Tasmanian east coast, in May 2009. Read more
- A pre-tumour diagnostic test to screen Tasmanian devils for the Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) has been pioneered by scientists as part of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program. Read more
- Strands of hair from the extinct Tasmanian tiger may help to further maximise genetic diversity in Tasmanian devil breeding populations. Read more
- Remains of Tasmanian devils that are thousands of years old could hold clues about how to deal with the Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). Read more .
- In July 2008, Anne-Maree Pearse, a cytogeneticist with the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries and Water, said a project undertaken at the Mt Pleasant Laboratory had identified several different strains of the transmissible cancer. Read more .
- A male Tasmanian devil that showed an immune response when injected with killed DFTD cells was being paired with a female, as at May 2008, so that researchers can study the inheritance pattern of his immune responsive genes. Read more.
- Recently-published research into the diet of the Tasmanian devil will be important for the management of wild and captive devil populations, as well as in helping us to understand the devil’s place in the environment. Read more.
- Tasmanian devils are breeding early in response to the Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), scientists from the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program have discovered. In a paper published in July 2008 in the US journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of the Science (PNAS), the researchers explain that this is the first known case of infectious disease leading to increased early reproduction in a mammal. Read more.
- Collaborative research across Australia has provided further evidence that a lack of genetic diversity among Tasmanian devils is a key factor in the transmission of Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). Read more.
- Update on toxicological investigations - Independent assessments of toxicological data from healthy devils and devils suffering from Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease found that a chemical cause of the disease is unlikely. Read the full reports.
- Devil genome - For information on the Devil Sequencing (Genome) Project which is in progress at the Children's Cancer Institute of Australia (CCIA), go to the CCIA website
- Using genetics to guide selective breeding - An integrated research program is needed to describe the Tasmanian devil genome and determine how to overcome the problem of low genetic diversity in the population, a genetics workshop at the University of Tasmania concluded in November 2007. Read more
- Ecohealth journal article, September 2007 - The Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) was the special focus of the September 2007 issue of the international, peer-reviewed journal, EcoHealth (www.ecohealth.net), which focuses on ecology, human health, global climate change, and conservation medicine. Read more
- A contagious cancer - The Devil Facial Tumour disease is a remarkable cancer as it is one of only three recorded cancers that spread like a contagious disease. Read more
- A facial tumour that appeared to shrink in an “interesting” devil - Read more
- Dr Elizabeth Murchison, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York - Dr Murchison and colleagues at New York’s Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory are using new DNA sequencing technologies to discover the genes that cause DFTD. Read more
- Genome sequences
Dr Kathy Belov, from the University of Sydney, is hoping her recent work with genome sequences will lead to a better understanding of the Tasmanian devils’ immune responses to facial tumours. Read more - CSIRO Scientific Research - May 2007
CSIRO scientists have joined the battle to save Australia’s iconic Tasmanian devils from the deadly cancer devastating the devil populations. Read more - A case definition of Devil Facial Tumour Disease - November 2006
Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries and Water (DPIW) veterinary pathologist Dr Richmond Loh, in conjunction with Murdoch University, published a case definition of the Tasmanian devil disease in the November edition of Veterinary Pathology. Read more - Full list of recent scientific publications (PDF, 44 KB)
- Recent Public Lecture series recordings
- See other research findings
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Newsletters
Newsletters produced by the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program will keep you informed about the progress being made in response to the disease.
March 2009 (PDF, 917 KB)
December 2008 (PDF, 1.12 MB)
September 2008 (PDF, 978 KB)
June 2008 (PDF, 1MB)
March 2008 (PDF, 1MB)
December 2007 (PDF, 805 KB)
August 2007 (PDF, 1.17 MB)
May 2007 (PDF, 752 KB)
February 2007 (PDF, 897 KB)
December 2006 (PDF, 621 KB)
March 2006 (PDF, 906 KB) - Research and Scholarship Grants
The University of Tasmania, through the Tasmanian Wildlife Research Advisory Committee (TWRAC), allocates scholarships and grants for research into all aspects of the Tasmanian devil facial tumour disease. These awards are funded from public donations received through the Tasmanian Devil Appeal by the UTAS Foundation and the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program. They support key research areas approved by the Devil Facial Tumour Disease Steering Committee (formed after the October 2003 workshop of scientists and animal health experts from institutions and organisations throughout Australia).
Research grants valued at up to $25 000 each are available to assist with projects endorsed by the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program. Scholarships are available to honours and postgraduate students at UTAS undertaking research related to TDFTD. International students are eligible to apply.
Applications for Research Grants and Scholarships are now accepted on an ongoing basis, to be considered at the next available funding round. Submissions for consideration at the next funding rounds must be received by 31 October 2007, February 29 2008 and 30 June 2008.
More information on the awards and application process is available on the UTAS website. (Information on recent recipients is available on our Schools page) - Checking for signs of the disease Purpose-designed traps have been invented by the Devil Facial Tumour Disease wildlife monitoring team to provide a less stressful environment for the temporarily caged animals. The animals are carefully examined for signs of the disease before they are released back into the wild.
- Remote sensor cameras Some areas of the state have low-density populations of Tasmania devils, limiting the effectiveness of physical trapping. Other areas are isolated, making it impossible to check traps on a daily basis. For these regions, the Devil Facial Tumour Disease wildlife monitoring team has developed remote sensor cameras. The new technology consists of a digital camera triggered when an infrared sensor picks up the movement of an animal. Tasmanian devils are lured into the area by bait placed at the site in an impenetrable container. More information on the purpose-built traps and remote sensor cameras is available on the website of the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries and Water.
- Would you like to know more?
See the Science of Devil Facial Tumour Disease information on the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries and Water website or view a movie on the Tasmanian devil.
