Devils Fight Back

Tasmanian devils have been the top predators on the Australian island of Tasmania for more than a century. But for the past 20 years, the furry, cat-size creatures have been the ones under attack. A deadly disease has been threatening the animals’ existence. Conservationists have been working hard to save the dying species. Now scientists think the endangered animals may be combatting the disease on their own. 

Tasmanian devils suffer from an illness known as devil facial tumor disease (DFTD). It causes massive lumps to form on a devil’s face and neck. The lumps can prevent the animal from eating and breathing, and the illness is almost always fatal. “The sheer number of animals that don’t survive is overwhelming,” says David Pemberton. He’s the manager of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program. 

Tasmanian devils have been the top predators in their habitat for more than a century. They live on the Australian island of Tasmania. But for the past 20 years, the furry, cat-sized creatures have been under attack. A deadly disease has been threatening their existence. Conservationists have been working hard to save the dying species. Now scientists think the endangered animals may be fighting the disease on their own.

Tasmanian devils suffer from an illness called devil facial tumor disease (DFTD). It forms huge lumps form on a devil’s face and neck. The lumps can stop the animal from eating and breathing, and the illness is almost always fatal. “The sheer number of animals that don’t survive is overwhelming,” says David Pemberton. He manages the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program. 

DFTD was first discovered in Tasmania in 1996. The disease spread across the island so quickly that scientists predicted the species would be wiped out in a matter of decades (see Widespread Illness).   

Contrary to the predictions, today’s devils seem to be fighting back. A new study shows that a small number of the animals carry genes—units of hereditary material—that may make them resistant to the disease. As these genes spread through the Tasmanian devil population, its genetic makeup appears to be quickly evolving. These changes could help the animals take a step back from the brink of extinction. 

DFTD was first spotted in Tasmania in 1996. The disease spread across the island so quickly that scientists were alarmed. They thought the species would be wiped out in a matter of decades (see Widespread Illness). 

But so far, that hasn’t happened. Today’s devils seem to be fighting back. A new study shows that a small number of the animals carry genes that may make them resistant to the disease. These units of hereditary material are spreading through the Tasmanian devil population. As a result, its genetic makeup seems to be changing quickly. This could help the animals take a step back from the brink of extinction.

Devils are found only on Tasmania. They’re named for their ferocious-sounding screeches. The animals are the world’s largest carnivorous marsupials—meat eaters whose babies finish developing in pouches outside their mothers’ wombs. Devils are also one of only three types of animals, along with clams and dogs, known to be susceptible to transmissible cancers, like DFTD. These cancers can pass between animals of the same species. 

Normally, cancer isn’t contagious. It occurs when one of the cells that make up an organism develops a mutation, or error, in its DNA. This molecule carries genetic information that contains the instructions cells need to function. A mutation to a cell’s DNA can cause it to divide uncontrollably, forming a tumor. 

Devils are found only on Tasmania. They’re named for their fierce-sounding screeches. The animals are the world’s largest carnivorous marsupials. That means they’re meat eaters, and their babies finish developing in pouches outside their mothers’ wombs. Devils are unusual in another way. They’re one of only three types of animals known to be affected by transmissible cancers, like DFTD. These cancers can pass between animals of the same species. The other animals are clams and dogs.

Normally, cancer isn’t contagious. It happens because of a mutation, or mistake, in one of the cells that make up a living thing. The cell’s DNA molecules carry genetic information. They hold the instructions that cells need to work. A mutation to a cell’s DNA changes the instructions. This can make the cell divide without stopping. That’s how a tumor forms.

Usually, if a healthy animal comes into contact with cancer cells from another member of its species, the healthy animal’s disease-fighting immune system immediately recognizes and destroys the cells. But when devils come into close contact with one another—through biting, for example—a sick animal can transmit DFTD cells to a healthy one. That’s because the cells disguise themselves so they aren’t detected by a recipient’s immune system (see Contagious Cancer). 

“This is what makes the disease so unique—and deadly,” says Rodrigo Hamede, a DFTD expert at the University of Tasmania. With no immune system response, the cancer cells can multiply unchecked. Once infected, a devil usually dies within 6 to 12 months.

If a healthy animal comes into contact with cancer cells from another member of its species, the healthy animal doesn’t usually get sick. That’s because its immune system fights the disease. It spots and destroys the cells. But when devils come into close contact with each other, it’s a different story. A sick animal can transmit DFTD cells to a healthy one through biting, for example. The cells mask themselves, so the healthy animal’s immune system doesn’t detect them (see Contagious Cancer). 

"This is what makes the disease so unique—and deadly,” says Rodrigo Hamede. He’s a DFTD expert at the University of Tasmania. The immune system doesn’t act, and so the cancer cells can multiply out of control. Most devils that catch the disease don’t last long. They usually die within 6 to 12 months.

By 2011, DFTD had wiped out more than 80 percent of wild devils. Conservationists were making plans in case the animals became extinct. “At that point, we were prepared to repopulate the wild population using individuals we had bred in captivity, since they were the only animals who hadn’t been exposed to the disease,” says Pemberton.

By early 2016, it was clear that the devils weren’t vanishing as fast as experts had feared. Most of the animals that caught the disease eventually succumbed to it. But some lived longer than others. A few of these devils resisted the disease long enough to reproduce and pass on their genes before they died. Scientists wondered if there might be something special about the offspring of these more-resistant devils.  

By 2011, DFTD had wiped out more than 80 percent of wild devils. It looked like the animals could become extinct. Conservationists were making plans. “At that point, we were prepared to repopulate the wild population using individuals we had bred in captivity, since they were the only animals who hadn’t been exposed to the disease,” says Pemberton.

But things looked different by early 2016. The devils weren’t disappearing as fast as experts had feared. Most of the animals that caught the disease died. But some lived longer than others. A few of these devils resisted the disease long enough to have offspring. That meant they passed on their genes before they died. These devils had been more resistant to the disease than the rest of the population. So scientists wondered if there might be something special about their offspring.

“When a disease wipes out 80 percent of the individuals in a population, you expect the remaining population to somehow be genetically different,” explains Paul Hohenlohe, an evolutionary geneticist at the University of Idaho.

“When a disease wipes out 80 percent of the individuals in a population, you expect the remaining population to somehow be genetically different,” explains Paul Hohenlohe. He’s an evolutionary geneticist at the University of Idaho.

Hohenlohe, Hamede, and a team of other scientists compared DNA collected from devils before and after DFTD swept across the island to test their hypothesis. They found that two regions of DNA were different in more recent generations of devils. Scientists think these regions may be related to devils’ immune system response and cancer defense.  

Hohenlohe, Hamede, and a team of other scientists wanted to test their idea. They looked at DNA collected from devils before and after DFTD swept across the island. They spotted something in more recent generations of devils. Two regions of their DNA were different. Scientists think these regions may be related to devils’ immune system response and cancer defense.  

The genetic changes the scientists observed probably first entered the population long ago as a result of genetic variation, or normal mixing of genes, says Hohenlohe. But as DFTD spread across the island, only the devils born with the more disease-resistant DNA lived long enough to reproduce and spread their genes throughout the population.  

The genetic changes the scientists saw aren’t new. They probably entered the population long ago because of genetic variation, or normal mixing of genes. But then DFTD spread acrossthe island. Only the devils born with the more disease-resistant DNA lived long enough to reproduce. Their genes spread.  

In the evolutionary process known as natural selection, animals that are better adapted to their environment survive to produce more offspring. This process usually takes place very slowly. Devils, though, are changing more rapidly than normal—spreading DFTD-resistant genes through the population in as few as four to six generations.

Animals that are better adapted to their environment survive to produce more offspring. This process is known as natural selection. It usually takes place very slowly. But devils are changing faster than normal. They’re spreading DFTD-resistant genes through the population in only four to six generations.

Devils’ rapid evolution may be the key to their rebound. Last fall, researchers made a remarkable discovery: For the first time, some devils are recovering from the disease. So far, there have been about half a dozen of these cases. “It’s only a tiny proportion, but it’s a start,” says Hamede.  

This quick change may be the key to the devils’ return. Last fall, researchers made a surprising discovery. For the first time, some devils are recovering from the disease. So far, there have been about half a dozen of these cases. “It’s only a tiny proportion, but it’s a start,” says Hamede.  

Scientists see these recovering devils as further proof that genetic changes and natural selection are helping wild devils evolve to overcome the disease naturally. One day, breeding programs may be able to encourage disease-resistant traits in Tasmanian devils to help the  more resilient animals spread through the wild populations, says Hohenlohe.

Despite the good news, devils aren’t out of the woods yet. In 2016, a second strain of transmissible cancer, called devil facial tumor 2 (DFT2), was discovered in devils in southeastern Tasmania. Scientists don’t know much about this illness yet, and they’re not sure what effects the disease will have. But devils are tough creatures, says Pemberton. Plus, the people of Tasmania won’t let their most iconic animal slip away without a fight. “Tasmanians love their devils,” he says. 

The devils that recover offer hope. Scientists think that natural selection is helping wild devils evolve to beat the disease on their own. Breeding programs may help, says Hohenlohe. Researchers could try to breed devils with disease-resistant traits. That would help stronger animals spread through the wild populations.. 

Even with the good news, devils aren’t out of the woods yet. In 2016, a second type of transmissible cancer was found in devils in southeastern Tasmania. Scientists don’t know much about this new illness, called devil facial tumor 2 (DFT2). They’re not sure what effects the disease will have. But devils are tough creatures, says Pemberton. And the people of Tasmania won’t let their most famous animal slip away without a fight. “Tasmanians love their devils,” he says.