The Thylacine was a unique carnivorous marsupial native to Australia and New Guinea, though its last stronghold was the island of Tasmania. Its distinctive dark stripes across its lower back led to its popular nickname, the Tasmanian Tiger. The animal was a formidable predator with a jaw that could open to an unusual 80 degrees, though it had a relatively weak bite force compared to similar-sized placental carnivores. The possibility of this iconic animal’s return is driven by persistent hope and ambitious new scientific projects.
The History and Extinction of the Thylacine
The Thylacine was the largest marsupial carnivore to survive into modern times. Its distribution had shrunk dramatically before European settlement, disappearing from mainland Australia and New Guinea around 3,200 years ago, likely due to competition with the dingo. By the time Europeans arrived in Tasmania, an estimated 5,000 Thylacines remained.
The species’ decline accelerated rapidly in the 19th century as settlers introduced livestock. The Thylacine was perceived as a serious threat to sheep, despite evidence suggesting feral dogs caused most livestock losses. This led to the introduction of bounty systems, encouraging intense persecution.
Persecution, habitat destruction, and introduced disease pushed the species toward collapse. The last known wild Thylacine was shot in 1930. The final known individual died in captivity at Hobart’s Beaumaris Zoo on September 7, 1936, only two months after the species was granted protected status.
Unconfirmed Sightings and the Search for Survival
The official extinction date of 1936 marks the death of the last captive specimen, but belief persists that a small population survived in the dense Tasmanian wilderness. Since the 1930s, hundreds of unconfirmed sightings have been reported across Tasmania and remote areas of the Australian mainland. These reports range from fleeting glimpses by ordinary citizens to accounts from experienced wildlife rangers.
Unverified evidence, such as blurry photographs, purported footprints, and unusual calls, continues to surface. Despite numerous expeditions and rewards offered for definitive proof, no conclusive physical evidence, such as a carcass or undeniable footage, has been found to confirm the animal’s survival.
Scientific analyses suggest the probability of the Thylacine surviving to the present day is extremely low, with some models estimating its final extinction in the 1980s or 1990s. The continued lack of concrete proof supports the official classification of the species as extinct. However, the sheer size of Tasmania’s wilderness and the animal’s shy, nocturnal behavior maintain hope that the Tasmanian Tiger still roams isolated valleys.
The Science of De-Extinction
The modern quest to bring back the Thylacine focuses on advanced genetic engineering rather than searching for a living population. This ambitious scientific undertaking aims to resurrect the species using ancient DNA. The project is distinct from true cloning because scientists lack a preserved, viable living cell to work from.
The first step is creating a comprehensive genetic blueprint, or genome, from preserved museum specimens, which is challenging due to DNA degradation. The Thylacine genome has been successfully sequenced to a high degree of accuracy, making it one of the most complete extinct animal genomes produced. This genomic data is compared against the DNA of the Thylacine’s closest living relative, the fat-tailed dunnart.
Scientists use gene-editing technology, such as CRISPR, to introduce the specific genetic differences that define the Thylacine into the dunnart cells. The goal is to modify the dunnart’s stem cells until they are functionally identical to Thylacine cells. The project then requires developing marsupial-specific assisted reproductive technologies (ART) to turn these engineered cells into a viable embryo.
Because marsupials have a very short gestation period, a potential pathway involves growing the embryo in a surrogate dunnart or artificial womb. The tiny, underdeveloped young would then be transferred to a surrogate mother’s pouch for final development.
Feasibility and Ethical Debates
Moving from a genetically engineered cell to a self-sustaining population introduces practical and ethical challenges. The immediate hurdle is perfecting the necessary reproductive technologies, which are currently underdeveloped for marsupials. Researchers must also sequence numerous Thylacine genomes to ensure the revived population has sufficient genetic diversity to avoid inbreeding and resist disease.
The financial investment required for de-extinction is substantial. This raises a significant ethical debate about resource allocation, as critics argue that funding would be better spent conserving currently endangered species. Furthermore, the act of resurrection is questioned, with some suggesting it diminishes the finality of extinction and may lead to public complacency regarding conservation efforts.
Returning the Thylacine to the Tasmanian ecosystem presents another layer of complexity, as the modern environment is vastly different from a century ago. While the former habitat is largely intact, the potential ecological disruption caused by introducing a new apex predator must be considered. The focus must remain on protecting the biodiversity that currently exists.