What is the Evidence that Suggests the Tasmanian Tiger Might Not be Extinct?
Introduction
For years, reports of Tasmanian tiger sightings have been dismissed as hoaxes or unfounded. However, new research has provided some evidence that suggests at least some of these sightings may have been legitimate.
The Tasmanian Tiger
The Tasmanian tiger, also known as the thylacine, was a carnivorous marsupial that once roamed Australia and the island of Tasmania. The animal is known for its distinctive striped coat and its wolf-like appearance. Unfortunately, the Tasmanian tiger was hunted to extinction in the early 20th century, and the last known living specimen died in captivity in 1936.
The Sightings
Despite the extinction of the Tasmanian tiger, there have been numerous reports of sightings of the animal over the years. Many of these sightings have been dismissed as hoaxes or mistaken identity, but some have been considered credible by experts.
One of the most compelling pieces of evidence for the continued existence of the Tasmanian tiger is a video recorded in 2017 by a group of tourists in western Tasmania. The video shows what appears to be a large, striped animal moving through the trees. While the footage is grainy and difficult to make out, experts have said that the animal’s gait and overall appearance are consistent with that of a Tasmanian tiger.
New Research
In a recent article published in the journal Scientific Reports, researchers analyzed DNA extracted from fecal samples collected in Tasmania between 2014 and 2018. While the majority of the samples belonged to known species of mammals, five of the samples could not be identified, leading the researchers to suggest that they could have come from an unknown species.
The researchers cautioned that it is impossible to say for certain whether the unidentified samples came from a Tasmanian tiger or some other as-yet-unknown animal. However, the discovery does suggest that there could be more to the reports of Tasmanian tiger sightings than previously thought.
Conclusion
While the evidence for the continued existence of the Tasmanian tiger is still far from conclusive, these new findings suggest that there may be more to the story than previously thought. As more research is conducted in the future, we may be able to unravel the mystery of the Tasmanian tiger once and for all.