Lost remains of last-known Tasmanian tiger found at museum, solving 'zoological mystery'

Authored by abc.net.au and submitted by DaRedGuy

The remains of the last-known thylacine — thought lost for more than 85 years — were kept in a cupboard in a Tasmanian museum for decades, with their significance only recently being realised.

Key points: The thylacine species — also known as the Tasmania tiger — is declared extinct

The thylacine species — also known as the Tasmania tiger — is declared extinct The last animal in captivity died at the Hobart Zoo on September 7, 1936, the day now commemorated as National Threatened Species Day in Australia

The last animal in captivity died at the Hobart Zoo on September 7, 1936, the day now commemorated as National Threatened Species Day in Australia The remains were thought lost, but researchers say a skin used as a touring exhibit and kept in a cupboard are now understood to be that of the final thylacine

The female thylacine, or Tasmanian tiger, died at the Hobart Zoo on September 7, 1936, and was supposedly transferred to the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG), but it has long been assumed its skin and skeleton went missing.

But detective work from researcher Robert Paddle and museum curator of vertebrate zoology Kathryn Medlock has resulted in the remains, which had been stored in a cupboard of the museum's education office, now being understood as belonging to the last thylacine.

Dr Medlock said a failure to correctly catalogue and record the specimen resulted in its skin being taken around the country as a travelling exhibit, with museum staff blissfully unaware they were handling the last of the species.

"It was chosen because it was the best skin in the collection, we didn't know then it was the last one," she said.

"This particular skin and skeleton that we've discovered has rarely been on display."

The preserved skin of the last-known Tasmanian tiger. ( ABC News: Maren Preuss )

The thylacine's distinctive stripes are clearly visible on the skin. ( ABC News: Maren Preuss )

The skull of the last-known thylacine, on display in a glass cabinet. ( ABC News: Maren Preuss )

The thylacine, or Tasmanian tiger, went extinct in 1936. ( Supplied: NFSA )

Dr Medlock said the disappearance of the specimen was also partly explained by the fact that no-one believed the female thylacine was the last one when it died.

"At that time they thought there were still animals out in the bush, in fact, I think the fauna board actually issued a permit for someone to collect one.

Tasmanian farmer Wilfred Batty poses with a thylacine shot at his property in 1930, now thought to be the last Tasmanian tiger in the wild. Six years later, the tiger at Hobart zoo would die, with the species considered extinct. ( Wikipedia )

"I know the museum offered 50 pounds for a thylacine if someone could catch one and bring one in, but no-one did," she said.

"They didn't really know it was the last one … and it is likely that there were still some in the bush at that time but as the endling, this is the last specimen."

Kathryn Medlock says the skin had rarely been on display. ( ABC News: Maren Preuss )

Dr Medlock said the skin and skeleton had been moved to the museum's zoological section in the Hobart suburb of Rosny.

"We've got them stored in special acid-free boxes and it's dark, the conditions are good," she said.

"The display case that the skin is in now here, it's a display case that's specifically built to preserve specimens, prevent fading, all of those sorts of things.

"We want them to last, so they're looked after very carefully."

It has long been believed that the last-known thylacine was a male, sometimes known as Benjamin, but Dr Paddle said that was a rumour peddled by a "bullshit artist".

Don't call the last thylacine Benjamin, Dr Paddle says. ( ABC News: Maren Preuss )

He said the theory there was a thylacine known as Benjamin at the Hobart Zoo had been debunked.

"It's an unfortunate myth," he said.

"It's time to remove it from the literature. It's so appalling Kathryn [Medlock] and I haven't even mentioned it in the [research] paper.

TheRealHandSanitizer on December 5th, 2022 at 17:58 UTC »

I think it's worth noting that museum cupboards are basically mini archive boxes, I don't think the skin would have survived if it was just in some utensil drawer

mybloodyballentine on December 5th, 2022 at 13:52 UTC »

When I worked at the American museum of Natural History, there was a taxidermied Tas tiger on one of the office floor. The scientists used to put bandannas around his neck. Good boy.

SticksDiesel on December 5th, 2022 at 09:57 UTC »

Cool. Now someone clone it!