Greenwire: Australian scientists have discovered a genetically distinct colony of Tasmanian devils that are immune from the contagious face cancer that has depleted the species.
They are hopeful the colony in the northwestern Tasmania state can help save the rest of the population. “We think these devils may be able to see the cancer cells as foreign and mount an immune response against them,” said lead researcher Kathy Belov. “We think more animals might survive in the wild than we initially thought.”
The fast-killing devil facial tumor disease is spread when the animals bite each other’s faces, causing facial tumors that can prevent feeding and affect internal organs. The Tasmanian devil population has fallen by 70 percent since the disease’s discovery in 1996. Australian officials warn the species could be extinct within 25 years.
Researchers say the immunity discovery offers a “glimmer of hope” that some of the animals can survive. They are currently working on a vaccine and ways to manage the disease. However, they warn that the cancer can evolve and are not content to rely on the new population alone (Tanalee Smith, Casper Star-Tribune, March 10). – JP