THYLACINE

Thylacinus Cynocephalus The Thylacine (also known as the Tasmanian Tiger) is an extinct species of carnivorous marsupial. It was discovered by European settlers and prison colonies in the 1800s and was described as a ‘Tyger Cat.’ The Thylacine measured about 3 Ft (1 M) long and looked similar to a dog. According to old notes and diaries, it was a sandy brown color. The Thylacine had stripes along its back, which differed in each individual. The Thylacine could open its mouth extremely wide, up to 80 degrees. However, the purpose of doing so remains unknown. The thylacine is said to have had a stiff gait, making it a slow runner. However, it was able to run over extremely long distances and wait for its prey to tire out. They are believed to have been nocturnal. Thylacines were able to stand up on their back legs and balance themselves on their tail. They were also able to hop in the case that they needed an escape.

When settlers arrived in Australia, they found that the land was very grassy, so farmers began bringing sheep. Sheep were an easy target for Thylacines which made them a nuisance to farmers. In response, the farmers began shooting them to keep them away from their sheep. The animal’s danger was greatly exaggerated. During the 1880s, the Thylacine was becoming endangered. Bounties were a great way of making money at that time. In the early 1900s, the Australian government finally put the Thylacine under environmental protection. But it was unfortunately too late, the last (known) Thylacine named Benjamin died in Hobart zoo in 1936. Over the 20th century, there have been over 2,000 reports of thylacines in the wild. In 1982, a scientist named Hans Naarding was spending the night at a sight near Arthur River. He claimed observed a thylacine for several minutes. In 1985, a tracker named Kevin Cameron took photos of a digging thylacine. In 2005, Klaus Emmerichs, a German Tourist took digital photos while in the woods. The photos showed a patch of tan and stripes among the foliage. However, because it was a digital image, its authenticity has remained unclear.