Posted on 10/25/2019 11:02:36 AM PDT by Red Badger
These sightings, if true, would reverse the belief that the carnivore has gone extinct.
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The Australian government recently released a list of documented thylacine—also known as the Tasmanian tiger or Tasmanian wolf—sightings. The thylacine was thought to be extinct for the past eight decades and has yet to be officially spotted since the last one in captivity died in the early 1930s.
It remains to be seen whether or not any reported thylacine sightings will be made official—something made especially difficult with no photographic proof or other hard evidence.
If the creatures are extinct, there may still be hope to see a living thylacine as scientists have replicated their DNA and may one day be able to use the genetic material to clone the animal.
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Various reported sightings may be the key to finding the thought-to-be-extinct Tasmanian tiger, formally known as Thylacinus cynocephalus or, the thylacine.
According to CNN, an official document was recently released by the Australian government detailing eight thylacine sightings beginning in September 2016 through September of this year.
If the sightings are indeed accurate, then thylacines can add another skill to their résumés: masters of mystery and concealment considering that the last known living Tasmanian tiger died in captivity in the fall of 1936.
Native to the island state of Tasmania, thylacines have earned near mythical status as they remain to be officially documented but are constantly being seen by Tasmanian locals and visitors alike.
Thylacines look like a mix between a large cat and medium sized dog with fur that varies between a yellowish tan and plain brown. The creatures are carnivores with strong jaws and both males and females have a pouch in which they hold their babies, like other marsupials like the kangaroo.
Although there is no official reason for the extinction of the thylacine, it's likely that their numbers dwindled after being extensively hunted by humans and dealing with increased competition from a growing dingo population.
If it turns out that thylacines actually have gone extinct, there's still hope for those who wish to see one; the Australian Museum replicated thylacine DNA back in 2002, making it potentially possible to bring the mysterious creature back to life.
* Escapee from a government DNA research lab.
If there are no photos in this age of cameras everywhere, there are none of these animals remaining.
Paging Dr. Moreau
You’re Tiger has escaped.
https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/index.php/animals/tasmanian-devil
Apparently Tasmanian Devils are not extinct at the San Diego Zoo. I remember seeing one there years ago.
the reason they were seeing so many was because there were 30 million of them recently, derived from a few breeders that hid away for decades-, but unfortunately climate change killed them all last week, so yes, they are extinct, again
Tasmanian Devils - NOT extinct.
Tasmanian Tigers - Extinct........maybe........
Gotta love that nasty Tasmanian devil. Very small, afraid of no one.
But it’s not the Tasmanian tiger.
‘...both males and females have a pouch in which they hold their babies, like other marsupials like the kangaroo.”
To my understanding Thylacines and water opossums are the only known species where the males had/have pouches. The water opossum is the only known living marsupial with male pouches. I’m not sure if they held babies in their pouches, both supposedly tucked their genitals in the pouch somehow to keep from being entangled in vegetation, which is always a good idea.
Freegards
good movie
I saw it years ago. On these things called a DVD.
Filled with Dodo Birds, Tasmanian Tigers, Wooly Mammoths, Carrier Pigeons and Giant Sloths......................
Could a small population of Tasmanian tigers have survived for the last 80-90 years? Possible. Maybe not probable but possible. Their historical range includes some pretty rugged areas without a lot of human activity. There have been repeated sightings including some from biologists and rangers whose credibility is high.
It would be fantastic if true!...................
Tasmanian tigers AREN’T extinct (or at least they won’t be for long!): Scientists unlock mysterious creature’s DNA - and plan to clone it bring the beast back to Australia:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5167733/Tasmanian-Tigers-come-dead.html
Ivory-bills are not extinct either... at least I hope they aren’t...
If the sightings are indeed accurate, then thylacines can add another skill to their résumés: masters of mystery and concealment ...”””
Get real. If there are a few around they need only find one another. In a place the size of Oz you’d need a HELL of a lot of them before people started seeing them.
Pleistocene Park, with Neanderthal guides.
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