Extinct Creature Caught on Video?

11/24/2010

The thylacine, also called the "Tasmanian tiger" or "Tasmanian wolf" even though it's not a feline or a canine, was a carnivorous marsupial once native to Australia. Unfortunately, the animal was wiped out by people in its last remaining stronghold, the island of Tasmania.  It is now officially considered to be extinct, with the last known living individual dying in the Hobart Zoo in 1936.

But there are some that believe these strange predators still survive in the remote Australian wilderness.  There are occasional sighting reports as well as potential tracks, scat and kills, although none can be definitely said to be those of a living thylacine.

The first video below shows historical footage of a living thylacine.  The second video was released this month and the man that shot the footage in 2009 claims that it shows a living thylacine.  What do you think?

 

Thylacine photo via Flickr Creative Commons.

Comments

[Jayme]

This made me cry. The thylacine is my favorite animal to ever exist. I hope the possibility of their extinction being erased off the board will become a reality.

[lfom]

Maybe, I am just hoping it's true. It's a beautiful animal and I'd be very happy it's not extinct. No specie deserves to be extinct due to human activities, or even worse, hunting.

[Roberta]

I think that the new video is just not clear or close enough to determine such a thing, but it sure would be nice if it was.

[Danielle Mitchell]

It looks like maybe it would be it. The body movement looks right as well as the length of the torso and tail... I sure do hope it's true. Any animal the is extinct because of human activity is tragic.

[Agustin]

No es claro, podría ser cualquier animal parecido, como un zorro, o un chacal. Pero sería algo extraordinario recuperar esa especie.

[Ashley]

They both move the same... It kind of moves like a hyina (sp) but it's shape is the same as the Tasmanian wolf. It's possible and it'd be so awesome to have it back. I've never even heard of this animal before. Too bad the second video wasn't clearer. Let's hope anyways fingers crossed

[Joshua]

i wish it is true, however i have heard reports that there is a frozen embryo in hobart zoo, if cloning where to be created soon we may be able to revive the species.

[whale_watcher]

Even if this animal is a thylacine, which to me it looks like it could be, it would still be considered extinct because only a few animals won't be able to save the species. Very cool video. I wish the videographer would have gotten closer :/

[chrystal]

It does look alot like one but who can tell on this video its alittle out of focus maybe maybe not

[melissa]

it looks about right, but the video isnt close enough or clear enough to really say for sure, though i wouldnt be too surprised if it turns out true

[Andy Lynn]

I'd be extremely happy if it turns out to be a Thylacine, but the video isn't very clear. To me, the tail looks a bit bushier and I don't see any obvious stripes, and apparently foxes were introduced into Australia at some point for hunting, so I'm guessing that could be the explanation.

[Melissa Kowalski]

The tail seems to be long enough, but is it too bushy? We are all crossing our fingers on this one!

[Caitie Kellum]

Looks like a fox to me, unfortunately. =(

[Venessa]

These are amazing animals, it would be great if there were still some alive, its stinks that people have irradicated them, humans always destroy, espcially raraties.

[luis]

i dont hunt, but if i did and i heard that these animals were indangered, id think that meant STOP KILLING THEM.

[Jamie Hendricks]

hay guys, I think that we should put this on FB... like um i dont know a vote if people think they are alive and thriving... or mabey if people find they are not extinct then we should make something like: Save The Thylacine.

I Beileve... i mean look at the video when the thylacine is facing sideways then look at the picture... its too much alike for me to say no ;)
contact me about ur opinion...
jamieh11997@yahoo.com
XD

[Amber]

I think there might be a few still living. Granted, I am not an Australian, but characteristics of an animal are unique, and this one seems to match the one above.

[Nikki]

The video is too out of focus to tell for sure - but it moves like a fox.

[melanie tala thunder]

Oh my gosh! I've never heard of this animal before but they are beautiful and exotic! It would be fantastic if they came out of their extinction status and into endangered at least! I am doubtful however that the animal in the video was a tasmanian tiger, why wouldn't he have gone closer up so we could actually see? But I hope it was one :D

[Kristy]

They brought the Black Footed Ferret back from extinction with only 18 ferrets so maybe if they could catch these few you can bring the Thylacine back! Although I'm not too sure about that video, it didn't have stripes or the right tail. Maybe if someone with some great computers can zoom in and check it out.

[Luke Peterson]

It is so sad what happened to them. They have long been one of my most fave animals for as long as I can remember. It shows how nasty people can be as well. Native animal living where it belongs, yet made extinct (or is considered now extinct) due to people considering them as 'pests' or 'vermin'. I so so hope they're still out there. There are sightings reported from time to time, but no concrete evidence really. There are scientists trying to bring them back though, with DNA obtained from a foetus.

[Mehvish Shoaib Shahzad]

looked like an ant eater to me guys..

but anyhow, hope the thylacine actually still exists and can someday bounce back with good numbers.. fingers crossed..

[Jo Dunn]

OK that makes a LOT of sense dude, WOw.

www.privacy-web.edu.tc

[ME]

Let's hope it is.
And then, let's hope no Great American (or any other nationality) hunters will pack up their gear to try and snatch themselves the last existing Tasmanian Tiger....

[Christine Aspinall]

I live in hopes! Maybe a few of these gorgeous animals were able to escape the 'human predators'. How awful to kill any species to extinction. I hate hunters and guns! Maybe someday we will be able to see a real live Thylacine either in the wild or through cloning.