Tasmanian tiger seen

Press, 20 January 1984, Page 4

Tasmanian tiger seen

NZPA-AAP Hobart An official sighting of the Tasmanian tiger, feared extinct for 48 years, was disclosed yesterday by the State National Parks and Wildlife Service.

The tiger was seen 18 months ago by a ranger in forest country in the northwest of the state, according to the parks’ chief wildlife officer, Mr Rod Pierce. “He was parked in his Oar at night doing other work when he saw it in his spotlight,” Mr Pierce said. “It was not a fleeting glimpse — he had long enough to have a good look at the animal.” Mr Pierce said it was one of a number of good sightings of the tiger over the last few years, but it was the only one by a ranger.

Since then the service had mounted a project to investigate the sighting, but had found no further trace of the animal.

The Tasmanian tiger was last seen alive in Hobart Zoo, where the last captive specimen died in September, 1936. Since it was made

a protected species in July, 1936, many scientific and amateur expeditions have failed to prove that it survives.

The unique thylacine has a tiger-striped back, a dog’s face, and powerful jaws, a pouch for carrying its young, and a kangaroo-like tail.

It was hunted extensively as a sheep-killer last century. Mr Pierce said the service would not disclose the name of the ranger who had made the sighting nor would it specify the area where it was made.

“The tiger must have as much protection as possible,” he said. “We don’t want all sorts of people going out and looking for it.”

After the sighting the service mounted a special project to investigate.

Rangers have searched along creek banks and through muddy areas looking for footprints. If its general location becomes known rangers will set up infra-red cameras in the hope of capturing it on film.

Mr Pierce said the search

had so far been fruitless and no tracks had been found. “The project will run until the end of summer, and then it will be reviewed,” Mr Pierce said.

A private expedition in search of the tiger — which will concentrate on the north-west of the state — was announced last month by the wildlife park operator Mr Peter Wright of Mole Creek. The American television network chief, Ted Turner, made an offer of sAustloo,ooo for proof that a tiger had been seen when he was in Hobart last month.