Thylacine
Also known as: Tasmanian Tiger, Tasmanian Wolf, Thylacinus cynocephalus
Officially extinct since 1936, the Tasmanian tiger is the subject of more credible survival sightings than almost any other lost species.
Last confirmed 1936, sightings ongoing
Tasmania, Australia
1-1.3 meters body length, plus tail
Shy, nocturnal
Officially extinct, hundreds of unverified sightings
The Lore
The thylacine was a carnivorous marsupial native to Australia and Tasmania, declared extinct after the last known individual died at Hobart Zoo in 1936. Despite this, hundreds of sighting reports have been filed in Tasmania and mainland Australia. In 2021, a detailed sighting report from a former park ranger in Tasmania reignited public interest. The species' habitat in remote Tasmanian wilderness offers plausible refugia. Multiple scientific groups, including Colossal Biosciences, are pursuing de-extinction efforts using preserved DNA.
Body Type
Folklore Origin
Notable Witnesses
- Multiple Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife officers
Media Appearances
- The Hunter (2011 film)
- Extinction (2021 documentary)
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