New research has found the less often a Tasmanian Devil is bitten, the more likely it is to contract Devil Face Tumour Disease – responsible for wiping out 85% of the population.

Project leader Dr Rodrigo Hamede described the findings as “counter-intuitive”. Rather than the aggressive devils spreading the disease, they were more likely to become infected by biting the tumours of the less aggressive.

The results can be used to reduce the disease by boosting breeding of less aggressive, therefore the more resilient devils.