The Tasmanian Tiger, or thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus), is an enduring symbol of extinction and mystery. This unique marsupial predator vanished from the wild, yet questions persist about its potential survival in remote corners of Tasmania. The debate over its existence fuels ongoing searches and scientific endeavors, keeping its legacy alive.
A Vanished Predator
The Tasmanian Tiger was a large carnivorous marsupial, resembling a dog with distinctive dark stripes, earning it the “tiger” moniker. It measured between 39 to 51 inches long, with a tail of 20 to 26 inches, and weighed up to 66 pounds. This apex predator once roamed across mainland Australia and New Guinea, but by European settlement, its range was restricted to Tasmania. Its historical habitat included eucalypt forests, grasslands, and wetlands.
The decline of the thylacine was driven by human activities. European settlers, who introduced livestock like sheep, perceived the thylacine as a threat to their farms, despite its timid nature and jaw structure not suited for large prey. This led to widespread hunting, intensified by government-backed bounty schemes introduced in Tasmania from 1888 to 1909, paying for each animal killed. Over 2,180 bounties were paid during this period, contributing to its demise. Other contributing factors included habitat destruction, competition with introduced species like dogs, and possibly disease.
The last known individual, a male named Benjamin, died in captivity at the Hobart Zoo on September 7, 1936. This date is the official extinction point, though recent research suggests wild populations might have persisted into the 1940s or even later. The IUCN officially declared the thylacine extinct in 1982.
The Persistence of Hope: Unconfirmed Sightings and Evidence
Despite its official extinction, reports of Tasmanian Tiger sightings have continued for decades, fueling hope and speculation. These anecdotal accounts often describe brief glimpses of a striped, dog-like animal in remote and densely forested areas of Tasmania, especially the island’s northwest. Some reports also originate from mainland Australia, though these are less frequent and generally considered less credible.
Alleged evidence varies widely, from blurry photographs and fleeting video footage to eyewitness accounts of movement or distinctive calls. Individuals claim to have seen the animal crossing roads, moving through bushland, or even leaving footprints. Over 1,200 alleged sightings were reported between 1910 and 2019 in Tasmania alone.
In 2019, a government plant biologist claimed to see a thylacine from 30 meters, describing its bounding movement into the bush. Another report that year mentioned a footprint near Sleeping Beauty Mountain, though no photographic evidence was obtained. While these reports reflect public desire, they consistently lack the verifiable detail and scientific rigor for confirmation. Many reported images or videos have been identified as other native animals, such as Tasmanian pademelons.
Scientific Inquiry and the Quest for Proof
The scientific community employs rigorous methods in the search for the Tasmanian Tiger, unlike anecdotal sightings. Organized expeditions and extensive camera trapping efforts deployed across remote areas of Tasmania where it might persist. Early camera trapping efforts aimed at rediscovery began in the 1950s. Despite continuous, sophisticated camera trap deployments, no definitive photographic or video evidence of a living thylacine has emerged.
Beyond visual surveys, scientists also utilize environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling, collecting genetic material shed by organisms into the environment. This method detects a species’ presence without direct observation. However, no conclusive eDNA evidence for the thylacine has been published to date. The analysis of alleged physical evidence, such as scat or hair samples, requires genetic testing for identification.
To scientifically confirm an extinct species as extant, strict criteria must be met. This requires verifiable specimens: a live animal, a carcass, or clear photographic/video evidence with genetic material. Without such concrete proof, the scientific consensus remains that the Tasmanian Tiger is extinct. While some models suggest a slight possibility of its survival into the late 1990s or early 2000s, experts consider the chance of its existence less than one percent.
Beyond Reappearance: De-Extinction and Conservation
Despite scientific consensus on its extinction, the Tasmanian Tiger remains a focus of modern scientific initiatives, particularly de-extinction. Companies like Colossal Biosciences, with the University of Melbourne, are pursuing projects to bring the thylacine back. This ambitious goal involves using advanced gene-editing technologies, such as CRISPR, to modify the DNA of its closest living relatives, like the fat-tailed dunnart, to approximate its genome. Scientists have successfully sequenced a near-complete thylacine genome from a 110-year-old preserved head, providing a genetic blueprint.
The de-extinction process aims to create a proxy creature that could fill its ecological niche as an apex predator in Tasmania’s ecosystem. This could help rebalance the environment, for example, by controlling herbivore populations or reducing disease spread in other marsupials like the Tasmanian Devil. Technology developed for de-extinction may also aid broader marsupial conservation by advancing assisted reproductive technologies.
However, these de-extinction efforts are accompanied by ethical and scientific challenges. Critics raise concerns about the feasibility of accurately recreating a species, animal welfare in experiments, and potential for unintended ecological consequences upon reintroduction. Debates also exist about allocating resources to de-extinction versus conserving endangered species. If a reintroduction were successful, careful consideration would be needed for long-term survival in a potentially altered environment.