I'm absolutely fascinated by the Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger), it was such a unique and primitive
creature and amazingly, was still roaming the Tasmanian wilderness til at least the 1930's... Yet, we know next to nothing about it.
Of course, anyone that knows anything about this carnivorous marsupial with a canine like appearance, knows theirs no shortage of claimed sightings
and people who will tell you they still exist... not only in Tasmania, but also on the Australian mainland. Every year or so I'll anxiously search the
internet for that holy grail evidence that the Thylacine didn't actually go extinct. Yet, to my disappointment its always the same thing, just some
blurry footage of what is clearly a mangy fox or wild dog.
So in my mind, it's becoming more and more unlikely as the years go on that a small population actually survived European occupation of there habitat.
But I'll keep hoping and looking for that indisputable evidence.
In the meantime though, as far as I can tell, this radio interview of the man who shot the last documented Thylacine is the closet we can get to a
detailed encounter with a wild Thylacine.
Two things stick out to me the most in this interview... Firstly, the guy mentions that this was the first Thylacine he'd ever seen or even heard,
which suggest they were already incredibly rare. Also, by his description of the encounter, the Thylacines behavior didn't seem to be all that
'elusive'... I mean, it didn't seem like it was particularly all that keen on being caught either. But it definitely didn't sound like he was overly
timid by being in the presence of humans, which you would think for the possibility of them to still exist, they would need to be.
Personally, I think they were still around right up to the 1960's and dare I say, as disgraceful as it is, were probably still being shot and hunted
by farmers... But from all accounts the Tassie Tiger population was probably never all that plentiful even before European occupation... So probably
never stood a chance once we started hunting it and destroying its habitat.
I'll still keep searching for that indisputable proof the marsupial wolf still exists though... Just even to have some footage of it hunting its prey
would be a dream come true.
But, I guess for now, all we have is this...
edit on 30-8-2019 by Subaeruginosa because: (no reason given)
I share your fascination with the Thylacine. The reports of Thylacine sightings from time to time and the vastness of the wilderness in Tasmania and
Australia give me hope that they have managed to make it to the 21st century. There is an active Facebook page with Thylacoleo and Thylacine info,
including sightings (you may know of it already). I'll try to post a link below--haven't tried that before on ATS.
Edited to add: There are some folks on that Facebook page who believe that they have seen Thylacoleos as well. Their reports make for some
interesting reading. Unlikely? Of course. But still interesting...
edit on 30-8-2019 by elkabong57 because: (no reason
given)
edit on 30-8-2019 by elkabong57 because: (no reason given)
There have been some case, as you are probably aware, of animals being rediscovered after years of supposed extinction.
Maybe there are a few out there waiting for rediscovery. It's a slim chance, but you never know.