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What Is a Tasmanian Tiger?

A native to the island of Tasmania, the Thylacine or the Tasmanian Tiger was a carnivorous marsupial that has been termed as extinct since 1936. 

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“The kind of curiosity that builds in an individual when they hear about something new was quite evident when I came to know more about the Tasmanian Tiger.”
Anthony C. Casey

Evolution of Tasmanian Tiger

The evolution of the Tasmanian Tiger was indeed a sad tale. As a large carnivorous marsupial, these tigers were the only species within the family of Thylacinidae to ever survive in the modern era. But as they became isolated due to rising sea levels, their way of life started to get affected. Even European settlers at the time called them a threat to the Tasmanian sheep industry, which led to hunting.

Feeding and diet

As meat-eaters, Tasmanian tigers hunted kangaroos, wallabies, and sheep. While there is little research on their eating habits, certain points are known to the whole world. With the capacity to open their mouths to about 90 degrees, the process of hunting was quite different from other animals.

 

How They Become extinct

Hunting and habitat destruction were two of the main factors that led to the rapid extinction of the Tasmanian tigers. It was also known that the European settlers had placed a bounty on these animals as they were considered a threat to the Tasmanian sheep industry. Hence, they ended up becoming extinct.

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Top Facts About Tasmanian Tigers

Tasmanian Tigers

Even before the first European settlers arrived on the Australian Mainland, the Tasmanian tigers were known to be extinct. References to these animals date back to 1000BC and were commonly found in engravings and rock art. But those are not the only pieces of information that we have because top facts about Tasmanian tigers are widely known. So to give you a clear idea of the same and help you understand more about these animals, here are the facts that you need to know about.

The Stripes and Extinction

One of the main reasons behind the name, Tasmanian, is because of the stripes located on the lower back of these animals. Yes, that’s right. Scientifically known as “Thylacinus Cynocephalus” (Dog Headed Pouched One), the Tasmanian tigers had stripes in their lower back, and in 1986, it was declared that these tigers were extinct in 1936. This was known as the last individual had died in Hobart Zoo, Tasmania.

Extinction

The main reasons behind their extinction were mainly due to hunting and fierce competition between small predators like dingos. Moreover, it was also known that humans’ encroachment into their habitat further pushed forward the process, thus leading to extinction.

The Belief

While one does not have an official confirmation about their whereabouts or the fact that they are still alive, certain zoologists believe that they are very much alive. Based on a few droppings, zoologists believe that they are still alive, even though an official word about the same is yet to be known. Apart from that, it is also believed that the Tasmanian tiger was the closest relative to the Tasmanian Devil.

 

Shy Creatures

It is quite hard to digest and believe the fact that a tiger was shy, but it is pretty much the truth about these creatures. They were quite shy and thus avoided humans. As a result, the Tasmanian tigers were not dangerous. Yes, you heard that right. The largest carnivorous marsupial in modern times was not dangerous to humans. And yet, we let it go extinct.

When it came to hunting, researchers think that these tigers carried forward the process by scent, and it was mostly done at night. While hunting, they would make a yapping noise that was often compared to that of a dog.

The Offspring

Like most marsupials, Tasmanian tigers also had pouches that would expand as babies grew. Female tigers were known to carry about two to four babies at once and carried the process forward. While there is very little information on their eating habits, it is known that they were meat-eaters who hunted sheep, wallabies, and kangaroos. But for the most part, these tigers would not hunt large prey as their jaws were weak.

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