Remains of a tilacine recovered at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery
Remains of the thylacine, a marsupial predator unique to Australia, were discovered within the walls of the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. The thylacine, commonly known as the marsupial wolf, bore a striking appearance that resembled a wolf in silhouette, yet its skin carried stripes and its tail wore a fleshy, kangaroo-like shape. It carried young in a protective pouch, a feature that made it unmistakable to researchers and visitors alike. The species vanished from the wild in the first half of the twentieth century, with the very last recorded individual dying in a zoological enclosure in 1936. Curiously, the physical remnants of this animal seemed to vanish as well, and for many decades scientists were left unsure of the fate of the only remaining materials that could attest to its existence. No thylacine specimens from 1936 were documented in the zoological records, leading to the assumption that the body had been discarded and forgotten in the museum shelves.
Newly located evidence has now brought those bones and skins back into the light. The discovery came about through an unplanned turn of events—a staff member noticed the taxidermist’s notes within the museum’s unpublished annual report from 1936/37. The notes listed a thylacine among the specimens the master taxidermist was working on at the time. This clue set researchers on a meticulous path, prompting a thorough review of the museum’s skin collections. Their careful examination yielded confirmation: the skin, skull, and other remains of a thylacine were indeed present, quietly preserved but overlooked for decades. Experts explain that the earlier absence of interest in extinct species likely played a part in the late recognition. In 1936, many believed these animals survived in Tasmanian forests where other wildlife thrived, and there was a hopeful belief that a live specimen might someday be obtained. The museum even offered a reward for anyone who could catch and return a living thylacine, a goal that never came to fruition. This episode underscores how scientific certainty can be influenced by the prevailing beliefs of the time as much as by physical evidence.
With this rediscovery, the thylacine collection in the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery gains renewed significance. The recovered materials are expected to be preserved and displayed as one of the most valuable exhibits in the institution, offering researchers, students, and the public a tangible link to a vanished species. The restoration and careful care of these relics will provide new opportunities to study the animal’s biology, behavior, and the ecological context in which it once thrived. The find also serves as a poignant reminder of the fragility of natural history collections and the importance of ongoing archival audits, meticulous cataloging, and the constant reassessment of museum objects in light of new information. By safeguarding these remains, the museum ensures that future generations can encounter a crucial piece of Australia’s biodiversity story. [Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery]