Related Topics: Environment & Biodiversity, Wildlife Conservation
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Tasmania’s Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment released a document that mentions sightings of the Tasmanian tigers from September 2016 to September 19, 2019.
Why the recent sightings of the animal are important?
- The Tasmanian tiger or thylacine (a dog headed pouched dog) was an exclusively carnivorous marsupial that is considered to be extinct.
- The last known thylacine died in captivity over 80 years ago, in Tasmania’s Hobart Zoo in 1936.
- It may also be the only mammal to have become extinct in Tasmania since the European settlement.
How they became extinct?
- According to the Australian Museum, the thylacine was widespread over continental Australia, extending North to New Guinea and south to Tasmania.
- It was confined to Tasmania in recent times and disappeared from mainland Australia over 2000 years ago, mainly because of over-hunting by humans, diseases and competition from the Dingo (Canis lupus), a wild dog native to Australia.
- It was persecuted because it was believed to be a threat to sheep.
- It was also hunted for the purposes of collection by museums and zoos.
About the Species
- The thylacine, also known as the Tasmanian wolf, bears some resemblance to a dog, with its distinguishing features being the dark stripes beginning at the rear of its body and extending into its tail, its stiff tail and abdominal pouch.
- It was native to Tasmania, New Guinea, and the Australian mainland.
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