THE THYLACINE
What is the scientific name of the Tasmanian tiger?
Thylacine
Where did fossils of thylacines dating back millions of years come from?
Australia
What was Hans Naarding doing when he saw the animal?
Surveying an endangered migratory bird
How many claimed thylacine sightings have there been since it supposedly became extinct?
More than 4,000
Who investigated many of the reported thylacine sightings?
Nick Mooney
What animal did the thylacine look similar to?
A dog
About how long ago were thylacines widespread in Australia?
7,000 years ago
When did Naarding see the animal?
At night
About how many sightings are reported each year now?
150
What does Randolph Rose believe about the thylacine's survival?
He believes it is probably extinct
What was special about the thylacine's tail?
It was a thick continuation of its back
What animal was introduced to Australia and may have contributed to the thylacine's extinction there?
Dingoes
How far away was the animal from his vehicle?
Less than 10 metres
What happened after the news of Naarding's sighting became public?
Television crews arrived and search parties were organized
How many thylacines does David Pemberton think might exist if one is found?
More than 50
How many stripes did Hans Naarding see on the animal?
12
When did the last known Tasmanian tiger die?
1936
Why didn't Naarding immediately reach for his camera?
He didn't want to risk losing the sighting
Which countries sent television crews after the news broke?
Japan, the UK, Germany, New Zealand and South America
What other animal was once thought extinct but was later found alive?
The coelacanth
What type of animal was the thylacine, according to the passage?
A carnivorous marsupial
Where did the last known Tasmanian tiger die?
Hobart Zoo
Where did the animal disappear?
Into the tea-tree undergrowth and scrub
What happened after government and private search parties searched the region?
There were no further sightings
What does Hans Naarding think would be a better use of resources than searching for thylacines?
Saving Tasmanian devils and helping declining migratory birds