Thylacine

The "Tasmanian Tiger" — declared extinct in 1936, but persistently reported.

Region: Tasmania and, more controversially, mainland Australia
Documented sightings: 3 on map →

Overview

The Thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus) is a marsupial carnivore that was officially declared extinct following the death of the last captive specimen, "Benjamin," at Hobart Zoo on September 7, 1936. Persistent eyewitness accounts from Tasmania and, more controversially, mainland Australia have continued in the decades since, prompting ongoing field investigations and sustained academic interest in possible relict populations.

Identification

Approximately the size of a medium dog, with a sandy-yellow to gray coat marked by 13 to 19 distinctive dark transverse stripes across the lower back. The skull is distinctively long and dog-like, and the species could open its jaws to an unusual 80-degree gape. Movement is described as a stiff-tailed lope, with hopping noted in some historical observations.

Lore & Origin

Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Officer Hans Naarding's 1982 close-range observation in northwest Tasmania remains the most credible modern report and triggered a 15-month government-funded search. Greg Booth's 2016 trail-camera footage, evaluated by Naarding's former colleague Nick Mooney as having a 1-in-3 probability of depicting a Thylacine, represents the most cited modern photographic claim. Multiple recent academic studies suggest small populations may have persisted into the 21st century.