Tasmanian devil breeds early to beat cancer

by Rob Peters | July 14, 2008 at 03:56 pm | 829 views | 20 comments

Wombat - Featherdale Wildlife Park - Sydney, Australia

Tasmanian devils are living like there's no tomorrow because of a prevelant form of cancer that is shortening their lives. Apparently they're now 16 times more likely to breed at age one, which is years before their normal mating pattern.

The early baby-making may be an attempt to prolong the species in the face of an extinction-causing disease.

This is really fascinating. Scientists say it's the first known case of an animal adapting to a disease by breeding earlier. I wonder if humans will eventually have to do the same thing.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The little devils just can't wait. Faced with an epidemic of cancer that cuts their lives short, Tasmanian devils have begun breeding at younger ages, according to researchers at the University of Tasmania in Australia.

"We could be seeing evolution occurring before our eyes. Watch this space!" says zoologist Menna Jones of the university.

Since 1996 a contagious form of cancer called devil facial tumor disease has been infecting these animals and is invariably fatal, causing death between the ages of 2 and 3.

In the past devils would live five to six years, breeding at ages two, three and four, but with the new disease, even females who breed at two may not live long enough to rear their first litter.

"What we are suggesting in this paper is that there is likely to be strong selection for rapid evolution" toward early maturity, Jones said in an interview via e-mail.

"It was an exciting discovery," she added.

The disease could cause the devils to become extinct in 25 years or so, she said, but this change to younger breeding may slow population decline and reduce the chance of them disappearing.

"To our knowledge, this is the first known case of infectious disease leading to increased early reproduction in a mammal," Jones and her colleagues report.

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rpshen

at 15:58 on July 14th, 2008

good stuff:

Rob Peters, I like this story. It's good stuff.

That's incredible! Good for them.

Barbara McPherson

at 19:39 on July 14th, 2008

good stuff:

Rob Peters, I like this story. It's good stuff. It's interesting about the devils, but like something out of a horror story -- a rapidly spreading fatal form of cancer!

Zarny

at 03:19 on July 15th, 2008

Taken at Devils Heaven, Launceston. They rear orphans of the disease. Well worth a visit

Zarny has contributed a photo to this story.

nitistab

at 03:29 on July 15th, 2008

This Tasmanian Devil was bred in captivity at Whiteman Park Western Australia.

nitistab has contributed a photo to this story.

HouseOfTurtle

at 04:14 on July 15th, 2008

These Tasmanian Devils may look mean in photos, but really they are just tired and yawning - beautiful creatures. Lets do our best to ensure their survival.

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platzooie

at 04:28 on July 15th, 2008

These photos were taken at Trowunna wildlife park in Mole creek Tasmania. Tasmania's most successful Tasmanian devil breeding facility. Owner of the park, Androo Kelly, is the husbandry and breeding expert for a national captive breeding program hoping to save the Tassie devil if it does become extinct in the wild.

So far this breeding season, zoos on the mainland including Taronga zoo, Western plains zoo and the Reptile park in Gosford have successfully bred Tasmanian devil joeys!

We must save this iconic carnivorous marsupial.

cucurucho

at 06:09 on July 15th, 2008

Many of these photos are taken in the Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park in Taranna, on the Tasman Peninsula. This area plays an important role in the conservation of Tasmanian devils as it has been made possible, due to natural geographical barriers as well as human intervention, to prevent the cancer from spreading to the peninsula.

cucurucho has contributed a photo to this story.

tmc1233

at 06:48 on July 15th, 2008

The photo was taken at Lone Pine Sanctuary, Brisbane, Queensland.

Interesting story.

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Paschen

at 07:06 on July 15th, 2008

good stuff:

Rob Peters, I like this story. It's good stuff.

hanjosan

at 07:17 on July 15th, 2008

Copenhagen Zoo

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blacktopsx

at 07:33 on July 15th, 2008

Photo taken by Brad at a Devil Conservation exhibit at the Taste of Huon event in Huonville, Tasmania March 2008.

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papajulietmike

at 08:23 on July 15th, 2008

there are so cute .

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zxiank

at 09:23 on July 15th, 2008

I'd heard of the terrible facial cancer that's endangering the population in tasmania. It is encouraging though, to see the hard work that so many people are putting in to save the devils. Hopefully this new trend of early breeding can really help them! Go devils! :)

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Tina n

at 00:57 on July 16th, 2008

this photo was taken at australia zoo.

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Josh V-R

at 01:59 on July 16th, 2008

photo taken in a wildlife park in Tasmania an hour or so from hobart, I can't remember what it was called

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Marcin Kreglicki

at 04:29 on July 16th, 2008

I saw these critters at a wildlife park in Tasmania. Very cute... until they were fed...

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nigelbright

at 02:48 on July 17th, 2008

I reckon they would make good pets. They are quite playful.

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ellieArt

at 02:00 on July 19th, 2008

This little guy is about 7 months old (in the photo). He and his two brothers were orphan's and hand reared by the dedicated staff at bonorong park in Tasmania. These devils have not yet been exposed to FTD as they are not yet breading age. The are not part of the quarantine insurance population in Tasmania.

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PMY

at 05:48 on July 22nd, 2008

These Devils were in a refuge. Their Plight is still real but things are looking up...

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csgallow

at 10:49 on July 25th, 2008

Photo taken at Cleland Wildlife Park, Crafers, South Australia
http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/parks/sanpr/clelandconservationwp/index.html

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