Can the Tasmanian Devil survive the Devil Facial Tumor Disease?
Tasmanian Devil – will it survive in the wild? Devil Facial Tumor Disease (DFTD) is a form of a transmissible cancer that threatens the survival of the iconic Tasmanian Devil – the world’s largest surviving carnivorous marsupial. The cancer was first detected in late 1990s when devils with facials tumors were discovered in Tasmania’s North-East. A decade later the disease spread throughout the island claiming up to 90% of the devil population. Only the north-western part of the island remains disease free. There is a real possibility that the Tasmanian Devil will not survive in the wild for much longer. A healthy devil can live up to six years in the wild but once infected with DFTD it will succumb to the disease within a few months. The disease is transmitted through biting and scratching and manifets itself as facial lumps, which develop quickly into gross tumors on the face and neck of the animal. The fact that devils are scavengers and will eat the carcassess of the diseased devils
