Last of the Tasmanian Tigers
About this episode
The episode discusses the extinction of the Tasmanian tiger and the historical context of its decline.
The last known Tasmanian tiger to be held in captivity was found dead at Hobart’s Beaumaris zoo on 8th September, 1936. The critically endangered marsupial was accidentally locked out of its shelter overnight and succumbed to the frigid temperatures. With the animal’s death, a species that had once roamed across Australia for thousands of years went out with a whisper. In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly discuss why 19th- and 20th-century Australians hunted Tasmanian tigers with such enthusiasm; explain why Thylacines had been in decline for about 3,500 years anyway; and look into how close scientists now are to bringing the “dog-headed pouched one” back from extinction… Further Reading: • ‘The history of the Thylacine’ (The Zoological Society London, 2016): https://www.zsl.org/news-and-events/feature/history-of-the-thylacine • ‘Tasmanian tiger: Remains of last thylacine found in cupboard after 85 years’ (BBC, 2022): https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-63855426 • ‘Last of their kind: Caring for the Tasmanian Tiger collection’ (Museums Victoria; 2023): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykb66UCOMOY&t=9s • ‘Tasmanian Tiger in…
People in this episode
Hosts: Arion, Rebecca, Olly
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: The Zoological Society London, BBC, Museums Victoria, NFSA Films
Books & works: The history of the Thylacine, Tasmanian tiger: Remains of last thylacine found in cupboard after 85 years, Last of their kind: Caring for the Tasmanian Tiger collection, Tasmanian Tiger in Colour
Places: Hobart
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