Tasmanian devil photographs facial tumors
JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Tasmanian devils, the carnivorous marsupials whose feisty, frenzied eating habits won the animals cartoon fame, have returned to mainland Australia for the first time in some 3, years. The 11 most recently released devils began exploring their new home once they were freed from round, white cages at the nearly 1,acre Barrington Tops wildlife refuge in New South Wales state, about kilometers miles north of Sydney. Scientists believe the introduction of carnivorous dingoes, a surge in the indigenous human population, and a devastating dry season cause by a prolonged El Nino caused the devil to migrate to present-day Tasmania, said University of Tasmania ecologist Menna Jones. Devils have been protected in Australia since , and conservationists have worked to bolster their populations for years, citing their importance as top predators who can suppress invasive species — like foxes and feral cats — and in turn protect smaller species and biodiversity.


Tasmanian Devils May Overcome Transmissible Cancer That Nearly Wiped Them Out
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Tasmanian Devils May Overcome Transmissible Cancer That Nearly Wiped Them Out
Devil facial tumour disease DFTD is an aggressive non-viral clonally transmissible cancer which affects Tasmanian devils , a marsupial native to Australia. There is often more than one primary tumour. DFTD is rare in juveniles. The most plausible route of transmission is through biting, particularly when canine teeth come into direct contact with the diseased cells.



How Contagious Tasmanian Devil Cancer Goes Invisible
Tasmanian devils recently returned to mainland Australia for the first time in some 3, years. Tasmanian devils are released into the wild at Barrington Tops, Australia. Conservation group Aussie Ark planned the release effort. Children help release Tasmanian devils at Barrington Tops, Australia. Tasmanian devils are fierce.





December 9, report. A team of researchers from Australia and the U. In their paper published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B , the group describes their study of the creatures in the wild and how they behave when they begin to develop tumors. The cancer is not virus-related, but instead is spread when cancerous tissue from one animal comes into contact with exposed tissue in another animal—generally as a result of biting.
