Tasmanian Tigers are large animals from Tasmania. Most scientists believe it is extinct. Also called the Tasmanian Wolf, they are 5 feet long, including a 20 inch tail. It had short brown fur and looked like a wolf. Dark stripes resembling those of a tiger crossed the rear part of its back. They were fairly common until the early 1900s. European settlers hunted them and probably killed them all, because they ate sheep and poultry. They were an extremely frightening sight when it opened its mouth and also let out a fearful, bloodcurdling cry. Fortunetely, they did not like to attack humans. The Tasmanian Tiger, or Wolf, is actually a marsupial, animals which raise their young in a pouch like a Kangaroo or Opossum.  This creature was widespread over Australasia until several thousand years ago, when it became confined to Tasmania.  It is the largest marsupial predator and this helped play a role in it's alleged extinction, as white settlers to Tasmania killed them for a bounty because of their predation on domestic sheep.  This continued until 1910 when very few were seen in the wild and records show no bounties were collected after this date.  In 1936, the last known Thylacine, Benjamin, died at Hobart Zoo in Australia.  Since then many reports of sightings have been made but no specimens have been found.  Many credible people have seen them though, including Park Rangers, and other state officials.  Presented here will be a little evidence supporting their continued existence on Tasmania and possibly mainland Australia and Irian Java, and what is known about there lifestyle.

       

Wilf Batty with a Tasmanian Tiger killed at Mawbanna, 1930. Believed to be the last recorded tiger killed. The picture is of Wilf with the tiger propped up against a fence.

Albe Quarrel, of Brighton, holding a tiger he killed in 1912.

Thylacines are marsupial carnivores that somewhat resemble a wolf, and get the name tiger from the stripes along their back, numbering about sixteen to eighteen, and of varying lengths and widths.  They are about five feet long including the tail, which is thick and rather short, about twenty inches, and stand about two feet high at the shoulder.  Average adult weight is about forty five pounds. The most distinguishing feature can be seen when one opens it's jaw.  They have a very wide gape, and thus a very powerful jaw.  Thylacines are known for killing their prey, which consists of Wallabies, Pademelons, and other mammals including domestic sheep, by crushing the victims head with their jaw.  A Tiger's paw print is unique also, with five toes making an impression, whereas a dog or cat leaves four toe prints, as the fifth toe, called a dew claw, is higher up on the ankle.

    It is believed that Thylacines hunt alone or in small groups, but not much is really known about them and no photos exist of them in the wild.  Once old enough to leave the pouch, mothers raised there young in small lairs in rocky dens or under rotting trees.

  I believe this is Benjamin, in the Hobart Zoo.  Allegedly the last living Thylacine, that died in 1936.

This page was constructed on 12 April 1998

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