Thylacine Tassie Tiger Tasmanian Wolf National Endangered Species Day Australia Oz

National Thylacine Day 2007
The last one The last Thylacine in captivity died on 7 September 1936. This year marks the 71st anniversary of that occasion. During the last 20 000 years, the Thylacine was the largest carnivorous marsupial, so it played an important role as the top predator in its food web. *Fossils of Thylacines in Western Australia* Thylacines once roamed widely within Western Australia. Bones have been found at two sites in the north—Kimberley and Exmouth. Other evidence of Thylacines is in the rock art of the Pilbara. Conditions in caves of the southern half of the state have favoured the preservation of fossils. In the south-west, Thylacine remains have been located in numerous caves. To the east, many other specimens, some with mummified tissue, have been recorded. Two mummified remains have been carbon dated at 3 280 to 4 650 years. A mummified carcass was recovered by the Western Australian Museum from a Nullarbor cave in 1969. *Recent sightings of Thylacines* There have been numerous sightings (over 1 000) of Thylacines during the last 70 years. Some of these have been carefully observed by reputable people. Unfortunately, there is very little other evidence to support these sightings. *A personal conservation thought* Why have Thylacines disappeared? The lack of understanding of animals in their environments is the general cause. This consists of many specific aspects. Dingoes competed for the same niche during the last 3 500 years. Thylacines were killed because they attacked small farm animals. The hunting of Thylacines was encouraged by the Tasmanian authorities by the offering of a bounty. The hunting continued, even when it was obvious that Thylacine numbers were low. “With its passing, a whole family of marsupials which had existed for more than 10 million years became extinct.” (McNamara) *The hope* Perhaps many of the sightings are valid. Perhaps Thylacines still exist in Tasmania. Perhaps they are breeding in the south-west of Western Australia. Perhaps we’ll be lucky enough to see one. That’s the hope. *A Thylacine history* The Thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus) was the largest carnivore when European settlers first arrived in Australia. Even at that time, it was a rare animal—the first one was not captured until 1808 (five years after the settlement of Tasmania). By 1820, only four had been collected. Perhaps few more than 3,000 Thylacines ever existed. The animals were soon considered as unwanted. In 1888 a bounty of £1/0/0 was offered for each one killed. This was more pressure on the population than it was able to withstand. By 1900, more than 3 000 Thylacines had been killed. Population numbers had decreased to below the number required for survival of the species. Thylacines were now extremely rare. In 1909, just 101 years after the first capture, only two bounties were paid. The last Thylacine to be shot met its fate in 1930. The last Thylacine to be captured was sold to Beaumauris Zoo in Hobart in 1933, where it died, three years later. *Campout 1996* If you wish to yarn about Tassie Tigers, or mourn the apparent demise of the Thylacine, then join us on our campout for the 1996. We will be camped in the Whicher Range at the junction of Claymore Road and Evan weekend during which National Thylacine Day occurs in this decade—Saturday, 7 September Road, near Mt Seaview. (Consult a detailed map of the area, such as The West Australian Travellers Atlas: Map 24. The easiest access is from the west. One possible route is along Vasse Highway; turn north on to the Ludlow-Hithergreen Road; turn east onto Williamson Road which becomes Claymore Road after about 2 km. Continue another 7 km along Claymore Road. There is a large cleared area on the north side of the road at the junction.) You will need to be entirely self-sufficient. The area has been chosen as it is in the heart of the areas where Thylacine sightings have occurred—Bramley, Brunswick Junction, Busselton, Caves Road, Kirup (no rude comments please), Nannup, Treeton, Vasse. Fossil remains of Thylacines have been found in numerous caves in the south-west. Every tourist cave has yielded some remains. *Suggested weekend activities* Friday, 6 September 1996: spotlighting (walking or driving) in the open forest. Saturday, 7 September 1996: Bushwalking—orchids are prolific (44 species were seen in this area in 1995). Caving—visit a tourist cave such as Yallingup Cave, Mammoth Cave, Lake Cave, Jewel Cave or Moondyne Cave. Wineries—pick a road, any road—and sample varieties to please your palate. Sightseeing—the coastal scenery is outstanding. Evening campfire—sit around, socialise and reminisce. (Nostalgia just ain't what it used to be! Sigh!) Sunday, 8 September 1996: Do your own thang. *Acknowledgements* Thanks to Carlton United Brewery for donations of posters, coasters, labels and liquid refreshment in 1996. *Contacts for sightings* We are always interested to hear of Thylacine sightings. Lindsay Hatcher Alex J. Saar Notes originally prepared in 1986 by Lindsay M. Hatcher and Alex J. Saar. *Internet links* Thylacine—a species presumed extinct: Tasmania's new logo: To catch a Tiger: Tour of Tassie: Buy your own hologram of a family of Thylacines (or see the movie!!): The Beast of Buderim—recent sightings in Queensland: Australian A - Z Animal Archive (T): Australian A - Z Animal Archive (X): The South Australian Museum Thylacine Project: Tasmanian Tiger by Bianca Mazzarella (try viewing with background off) *Additional reading* Anon. (1982). Eighty-year-old Tasmanian Tiger dissected in Omega Science Digest July/August 1982 page 27. DOUGLAS, Athol M. (1986). Tigers in Western Australia? in New Scientist 24 April 1986, pp. 44-47. FLANNERY, T. (1990). Australia's Vanishing Mammals. R D Press, Sydney. GUILER, Eric R. (1985). Thylacine: The Tragedy of the Tasmanian Tiger. Oxford University Press, Melbourne. GUILER, Eric R. (1991). The Tasmanian Tiger in Pictures. St David's Park, Hobart. HEALY, Tony & Paul CROPPER (1994). Out of the Shadows—Mystery Animals of Australia. Pan Macmillan, Ironbark. JORDAN, Adye M. (1987). "The Tiger Man" The Thylacine—Yesterday Today and Tomorrow My Study and Findings. WordsworkExpress, n.p. MCCORMACK, Rob (1986). Strange Intruder. Ashton Scholastic, Sydney. MCNAMARA, Ken & Peter MURRAY (1985). Prehistoric mammals of Western Australia. Western Australian Museum, Perth. PARK, Andy (1986). Tasmanian tiger: extinct or merely elusive in Australian Geographic 1(3):66-83. RIDE, W.D.L. (1970). A Guide to the Native Mammals of Australia. Oxford University Press, Melbourne. pp.128-131. ROUNSEVELL, D.E. (1983). Thylacine in Ronald STRAHAN (ed.) The Australian Museum Complete book of Australian Mammals : the National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife. Angus & Robertson, Sydney. Pages 81-83. SLEE, Sid (1987). The Haunt of the Marsupial Wolf. South West Printing and Publishing, Bunbury. TROUGHTON, Ellis (1965). Furred Animals of Australia. Angus & Robertson. Sydney. pp. 50-52.

National Thylacine Day 2007

The last one
The last Thylacine in captivity died on 7 September 1936. This year marks the 71st anniversary of that occasion. During the last 20 000 years, the Thylacine was the largest carnivorous marsupial, so it played an important role as the top predator in its food web.
Fossils of Thylacines in Western Australia
Thylacines once roamed widely within Western Australia. Bones have been found at two sites in the north—Kimberley and Exmouth. Other evidence of Thylacines is in the rock art of the Pilbara. Conditions in caves of the southern half of the state have favoured the preservation of fossils. In the south-west, Thylacine remains have been located in numerous caves. To the east, many other specimens, some with mummified tissue, have been recorded. Two mummified remains have been carbon dated at 3 280 to 4 650 years. A mummified carcass was recovered by the Western Australian Museum from a Nullarbor cave in 1969.
Recent sightings of Thylacines
There have been numerous sightings (over 1 000) of Thylacines during the last 70 years. Some of these have been carefully observed by reputable people. Unfortunately, there is very little other evidence to support these sightings.
A personal conservation thought
Why have Thylacines disappeared? The lack of understanding of animals in their environments is the general cause. This consists of many specific aspects. Dingoes competed for the same niche during the last 3 500 years. Thylacines were killed because they attacked small farm animals. The hunting of Thylacines was encouraged by the Tasmanian authorities by the offering of a bounty. The hunting continued, even when it was obvious that Thylacine numbers were low. “With its passing, a whole family of marsupials which had existed for more than 10 million years became extinct.” (McNamara)
The hope

Perhaps many of the sightings are valid. Perhaps Thylacines still exist in Tasmania. Perhaps they are breeding in the south-west of Western Australia. Perhaps we’ll be lucky enough to see one.

That’s the hope.

A Thylacine history

The Thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus) was the largest carnivore when European settlers first arrived in Australia. Even at that time, it was a rare animal—the first one was not captured until 1808 (five years after the settlement of Tasmania). By 1820, only four had been collected.

Perhaps few more than 3,000 Thylacines ever existed. The animals were soon considered as unwanted. In 1888 a bounty of £1/0/0 was offered for each one killed.

This was more pressure on the population than it was able to withstand. By 1900, more than 3 000 Thylacines had been killed. Population numbers had decreased to below the number required for survival of the species. Thylacines were now extremely rare. In 1909, just 101 years after the first capture, only two bounties were paid.

The last Thylacine to be shot met its fate in 1930. The last Thylacine to be captured was sold to Beaumauris Zoo in Hobart in 1933, where it died, three years later.

Campout 1996

If you wish to yarn about Tassie Tigers, or mourn the apparent demise of the Thylacine, then join us on our campout for the 1996.

We will be camped in the Whicher Range at the junction of Claymore Road and Evan weekend during which National Thylacine Day occurs in this decade—Saturday, 7 September Road, near Mt Seaview. (Consult a detailed map of the area, such as The West Australian Travellers Atlas: Map 24. The easiest access is from the west. One possible route is along Vasse Highway; turn north on to the Ludlow-Hithergreen Road; turn east onto Williamson Road which becomes Claymore Road after about 2 km. Continue another 7 km along Claymore Road. There is a large cleared area on the north side of the road at the junction.)

You will need to be entirely self-sufficient.

The area has been chosen as it is in the heart of the areas where Thylacine sightings have occurred—Bramley, Brunswick Junction, Busselton, Caves Road, Kirup (no rude comments please), Nannup, Treeton, Vasse.

Fossil remains of Thylacines have been found in numerous caves in the south-west. Every tourist cave has yielded some remains.

Suggested weekend activities

Friday, 6 September 1996: spotlighting (walking or driving) in the open forest.

Saturday, 7 September 1996: Bushwalking—orchids are prolific (44 species were seen in this area in 1995). Caving—visit a tourist cave such as Yallingup Cave, Mammoth Cave, Lake Cave, Jewel Cave or Moondyne Cave. Wineries—pick a road, any road—and sample varieties to please your palate. Sightseeing—the coastal scenery is outstanding. Evening campfire—sit around, socialise and reminisce. (Nostalgia just ain't what it used to be! Sigh!)

Sunday, 8 September 1996: Do your own thang.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Carlton United Brewery for donations of posters, coasters, labels and liquid refreshment in 1996.

Contacts for sightings

We are always interested to hear of Thylacine sightings.

Lindsay Hatcher Alex J. Saar

Notes originally prepared in 1986 by Lindsay M. Hatcher and Alex J. Saar.

Internet links

Thylacine—a species presumed extinct:
Tasmania's new logo:
To catch a Tiger:
Tour of Tassie:
Buy your own hologram of a family of Thylacines (or see the movie!!):
The Beast of Buderim—recent sightings in Queensland:
Australian A - Z Animal Archive (T):
Australian A - Z Animal Archive (X):
The South Australian Museum Thylacine Project:
Tasmanian Tiger by Bianca Mazzarella (try viewing with background off)

Additional reading

Anon. (1982). Eighty-year-old Tasmanian Tiger dissected in Omega Science Digest July/August 1982 page 27.

DOUGLAS, Athol M. (1986). Tigers in Western Australia? in New Scientist 24 April 1986, pp. 44-47.

FLANNERY, T. (1990). Australia's Vanishing Mammals. R D Press, Sydney.

GUILER, Eric R. (1985). Thylacine: The Tragedy of the Tasmanian Tiger. Oxford University Press, Melbourne.

GUILER, Eric R. (1991). The Tasmanian Tiger in Pictures. St David's Park, Hobart.

HEALY, Tony & Paul CROPPER (1994). Out of the Shadows—Mystery Animals of Australia. Pan Macmillan, Ironbark.

JORDAN, Adye M. (1987). "The Tiger Man" The Thylacine—Yesterday Today and Tomorrow My Study and Findings. WordsworkExpress, n.p.

MCCORMACK, Rob (1986). Strange Intruder. Ashton Scholastic, Sydney.

MCNAMARA, Ken & Peter MURRAY (1985). Prehistoric mammals of Western Australia. Western Australian Museum, Perth.

PARK, Andy (1986). Tasmanian tiger: extinct or merely elusive in Australian Geographic 1(3):66-83.

RIDE, W.D.L. (1970). A Guide to the Native Mammals of Australia. Oxford University Press, Melbourne. pp.128-131.

ROUNSEVELL, D.E. (1983). Thylacine in Ronald STRAHAN (ed.) The Australian Museum Complete book of Australian Mammals : the National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife. Angus & Robertson, Sydney. Pages 81-83.

SLEE, Sid (1987). The Haunt of the Marsupial Wolf. South West Printing and Publishing, Bunbury.

TROUGHTON, Ellis (1965). Furred Animals of Australia. Angus & Robertson. Sydney. pp. 50-52.

Links to Information About Thylacines
National Thylacine Day (1996) National Threatened Species Day (2000 - 2002) The Thylacine I wish I had a thylacine to play with in my free time. I’d feed and pat and cuddle her and have me such a glee time. I’d clean her pouch of navel lint. I’d brush and groom her stripes. I’d file her nails and feed her well and even like her bites. Her elongated jaws and teeth would be in constant smile, With all the care and pampering I’d lavish all the while. To jealous friends and hangers-on who’d want her for their own, I’d flaunt my pet and show her off, while all in envy groan. I’d never let her from my sight, my precious tiger-doggy. She’d be unique, one of a kind, unlike the urban moggy. Give ME the creature cloned from history’s long extincted pages. I’ve yearned and searched and wanted one for absolutely ages! 14 May 1999 Thylacine Yahoo! Full Coverage: Tasmanian Tiger May Be Cloned Scientists divided on prospects for Tas tiger clone - Reuters (05/13/99) Tasmanian Tiger could be brought back from the dead - Australian News Network (05/13/99) Tassie Tiger may be cloned - Australian Broadcasting Corporation (05/12/99) Unleashing the Thylacine - The Age (05/13/99) ABC News - Tasmanian Tiger launched on to Internet SchoolWorld Endangered Species Project: Tasmanian Tiger SchoolWorld Endagneterd Species Project: Tasmanian Tiger 1 Steve’s Thylacine Page

Links to Information About Thylacines

National Thylacine Day (1996)

National Threatened Species Day (2000 - 2002)

The Thylacine

I wish I had a thylacine to play with in my free time.
I’d feed and pat and cuddle her and have me such a glee time.
I’d clean her pouch of navel lint. I’d brush and groom her stripes.
I’d file her nails and feed her well and even like her bites.
Her elongated jaws and teeth would be in constant smile,
With all the care and pampering I’d lavish all the while.

To jealous friends and hangers-on who’d want her for their own,
I’d flaunt my pet and show her off, while all in envy groan.
I’d never let her from my sight, my precious tiger-doggy.
She’d be unique, one of a kind, unlike the urban moggy.

Give ME the creature cloned from history’s long extincted pages.
I’ve yearned and searched and wanted one for absolutely ages!

14 May 1999
Thylacine

Yahoo! Full Coverage: Tasmanian Tiger May Be Cloned

Scientists divided on prospects for Tas tiger clone - Reuters (05/13/99)

Tasmanian Tiger could be brought back from the dead - Australian News Network (05/13/99)

Tassie Tiger may be cloned - Australian Broadcasting Corporation (05/12/99)

Unleashing the Thylacine - The Age (05/13/99)

ABC News - Tasmanian Tiger launched on to Internet

SchoolWorld Endangered Species Project: Tasmanian Tiger

SchoolWorld Endagneterd Species Project: Tasmanian Tiger 1

Steve’s Thylacine Page