The Tasmanian Tiger

The thylacine ("Thylacinus cynocephalus") is one of the most fabled animals in the world. Yet, despite its fame, it is one of the least understood of Tasmania's native animals. European settlers were puzzled by it, feared it and killed it when they could. After only a century of white settlement the animal had been pushed to the brink of extinction.

The thylacine looked like a large, long dog, with stripes, a heavy stiff tail and a big head. Its scientific name,"Thylacinus cynocephalus", means pouched dog with a wolf's head. Fully grown, it measured about 180 cm (6 ft) from nose to tail tip, stood about 58 cm (2 ft) high at the shoulder and weighed up to 30 kg. The short, soft fur was brown except for 13 - 20 dark brown-black stripes that extended from the base of the tail to almost the shoulders. The stiff tail became thicker towards the base and appeared to merge with the body. 

The thylacine was shy and secretive and always avoided contact with humans. Despite its common name, 'tiger' it had a quiet, nervous temperament compared to its little cousin, the Tasmanian devil. Captured animals generally gave up without a struggle, and many died suddenly, apparently from shock. When hunting, the thylacine relied on a good sense of smell, and stamina. It was said to pursue its prey relentlessly, until the prey was exhausted. The thylacine was rarely seen to move fast, but when it did, it appeared awkward. It trotted stiffly, and when pursued, broke into a kind of shambling canter. 

Breeding is believed to have occurred during winter and spring. A thylacine, like all marsupials, was tiny and hairless when born. It crawled into the mother's rear-opening pouch, and attached itself to one of four teats. Four young could be carried at a time, but the usual litter size was probably three. As the pouch-young grew, the pouch expanded, and became so big that it reached almost to the ground. Large pouch-young had fur with stripes. When old enough to leave the pouch, the young stayed in a lair such as a deep rocky cave, well-hidden nest or hollow log, whilst the mother hunted. 

Why are they extinct?

The arrival of European settlers marked the start of a tragic period of conflict that led to the thylacine's extinction. The introduction of sheep in 1824 led to conflict between the settlers and thylacines.

  * 1830 Van Diemens Land Co. introduced a thylacine bounties.

  * 1888 Tasmanian Parliament placed a price of £1 on thylacine's head.

  * 1909 Government bounty scheme terminated. 2184 bounties paid.

  * 1910 Thylacines rare -- sought by zoos around the world.

  * 1926 London Zoo bought its last thylacine for £150.

  * 1933 Last thylacine captured, Florentine Valley, sold Hobart Zoo.

  * 1936 World's last captive thylacine died in Hobart Zoo, ( 07/09/1936).

  * 1936 Tasmanian tiger added to the list of protected Wildlife.

  * 1986 Thylacine declared extinct by international standards.