Science Geek
If you’ve ever seen an old photograph or drawing of a striped, dog-like animal called the Tasmanian Tiger, you might wonder: Was this creature real, or just a legend? And, even more mysteriously – could it still be alive today? Let’s travel through history and science to learn the truth about the Tassie Tiger.
What Was the Tasmanian Tiger?
The Tasmanian Tiger – also called the thylacine (pronounced THY-luh-seen) – was indeed a real animal! In fact, it was still around in the 20th century. Despite its nickname, though, it wasn’t a tiger. It wasn’t even related to dogs or cats. The thylacine was actually a marsupial, a type of mammal that carries its babies in a pouch, like kangaroos and koalas do. Its nickname is inspired by the striped appearance of its hind quarters, which gave it a tiger-like look.
The thylacine lived on the island of Tasmania (off the southern coast of Australia) and, long ago, in parts of mainland Australia and New Guinea. It was about the size of a medium dog, with yellowish-brown fur and 13–21 dark stripes across its back and tail. Its head looked a bit like a wolf’s, but it had a stiff, kangaroo-like tail and even a pouch for carrying its young!
How Do We Know It Was Real?
There’s plenty of evidence that the Tasmanian Tiger was real:
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Photographs and film: The thylacine was photographed and filmed in the early 1900s. These pictures show its unique body shape and stripes.
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Skins and skeletons: Museums still have preserved skins, bones, and even stuffed specimens.
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Historical records: European settlers and Tasmanian Aboriginal people described the animal in their stories, drawings, and writings.
What Happened to the Tasmanian Tiger?
Sadly, the thylacine is considered extinct, which means there are no known living members of the species. When European settlers arrived in Tasmania, they saw the thylacine as a threat to their sheep and livestock. The government paid people to hunt them, and their habitat shrank due to farming and development. The last known thylacine died in 1936 at the Hobart Zoo.
But even today, some people claim to see thylacines in the wild, and scientists occasionally investigate reports and blurry photographs. So far, though, there’s no strong evidence that any still survive.
Could It Come Back?
Because scientists have preserved thylacine DNA in museum samples, there is ongoing talk of trying to bring the species back using advanced genetic technology – a process called de-extinction. It’s an exciting idea, but extremely complicated and still just a dream for now.
In the meantime, hopefully some of the reported sightings will prove to be accurate, pointing to a hidden population of these extraordinary marsupials tucked away in the Tasmanian wilderness.
Fascinating Facts About the Tasmanian Tiger
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Not a tiger or a wolf: The thylacine was the largest carnivorous marsupial of modern times.
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Big mouth: Its jaws could open nearly 80 degrees – almost like a crocodile!
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Night hunter: Thylacines were nocturnal and hunted mostly at night.
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Family ties: Their closest living relatives are the numbat and the Tasmanian devil.
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DNA detective work: Scientists have mapped the thylacine’s DNA and are learning more about how it lived and died.
Questions to Ponder
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Why do you think some animals become extinct, and what can we do to help protect endangered species today?
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If you discovered real evidence that a Tasmanian Tiger was alive, what steps should scientists take next?
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What are the benefits and risks of trying to bring back extinct species through science?
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How do stories and legends about “lost” animals shape the way we see nature?
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What might the world be like if the Tasmanian Tiger, or other extinct animals, were still around today?
The story of the Tasmanian Tiger is a powerful reminder of how quickly a unique creature can vanish, and how important it is to protect the amazing biodiversity that still exists on our planet. Who knows what other surprises the natural world has in store?
