Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger) Sightings

The Thylacine, commonly known as the Tasmanian Tiger, was declared extinct in 1936. Yet thousands of sightings have been reported since, making it Australia’s most sought-after cryptid.

The Animal

According to documented history:

The Thylacine was:

• A carnivorous marsupial
• Native to Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea
• Dog-like body with distinctive tiger stripes on its back
• Capable of opening its jaw unusually wide
• Hunted to extinction by European settlers
• The last known individual died at Hobart Zoo on September 7, 1936

Why It Went Extinct

The Thylacine disappeared due to:

• Hunting by farmers protecting sheep
• Government bounties for killed animals
• Disease (possibly distemper)
• Habitat destruction
• Competition with introduced dingoes (on mainland)

Post-Extinction Sightings

Since 1936, thousands of sightings have been reported:

• Primarily in remote Tasmanian wilderness
• Some from mainland Australia
• Reports describe striped, dog-like animals
• Many witnesses are credible (rangers, farmers)

Notable Searches

Multiple expeditions have searched:

• Various government and private expeditions since the 1940s
• Ted Turner offered a $100,000 reward
• Camera traps deployed throughout Tasmania
• No definitive proof has been obtained

The Evidence

Possible evidence includes:

• Photographs (none conclusive)
• Video footage (disputed)
• Tracks and scat (never confirmed)
• Eyewitness accounts (numerous)

Scientific Analysis

Scientists remain skeptical but open:

• Remote Tasmania could hide a small population
• The 1936 extinction was based on limited knowledge
• However, no specimens have been found
• No unambiguous photographs exist

De-Extinction Efforts

Modern science offers hope:

• DNA has been extracted from preserved specimens
• Cloning has been discussed
• The University of Melbourne is working on de-extinction
• A Thylacine could potentially be recreated

Sighting Hotspots

Common sighting areas:

• Southwest Tasmania wilderness
• World Heritage areas
• Remote roads at dawn/dusk
• Areas far from human habitation

What Witnesses See

Typical sighting:

• Dog-like animal crossing a road
• Distinctive striped back visible
• Unusual gait (stiff-legged)
• Seen briefly before disappearing

The Hope

If any Thylacines survive:

• They would be among the world’s rarest animals
• Their survival would be a conservation miracle
• Tasmania’s wilderness is vast and unexplored
• New species are still discovered

Sources

• Thylacine - Wikipedia