Tasmanian Tiger Habitat

The Thylacine, also referred to as the Tasmanian tiger or the Tasmanian wolf, was the largest mammal belonging to the marsupial family, which became extinct in the 20th century. Human encroachment in their natural habitat is believed to be the most prominent factor for the extinction of this creature, which was found in abundance in Australia and New Guinea around 2000 years ago. As the Thylacine population in the wild started diminishing long ago, it becomes very difficult to ascertain their geographical range. In order to determine its range and habitat, one has to take into consideration the behavior of this animal and undertake a study of the fossils that support the claims of its existence.

Tasmanian Tiger

The Thylacine was a carnivorous marsupial, predominantly characterized by its appearance which resembled canids to quite a significant extent. A full-grown Thylacine could attain a length of around 5-6 ft from its mouth to tail, and weigh up to 65 lbs. It sported a light brown fur coat with black stripes running down from the shoulders to the base of the tail. It had a large skull as compared to its body. The Thylacine had the ability to open its mouth as wide as 120 degrees, owing to its specially designed jaw. Predominantly a nocturnal creature (active during the night), the Tasmanian tiger also displayed crepuscular behavior (active during the dusk and dawn) at times.

Tiger or Wolf?

Even though both the names may suggest that the Thylacine was related to tigers or wolves, it is not at all true. It was referred to as the Tasmanian tiger owing to the stripes on its back, and as the Tasmanian wolf, owing to its appearance, which resembled canids to a significant extent. This creature belonged to the marsupial family - a group of mammals in the kingdom Animalia, typically characterized by pouches in female species. Other members belonging to this family of animals included kangaroos, wallabies and koala bears.

This animal had a strong sense of smell, which it used effectively while hunting in the dark. Thylacines were solitary hunters, which hunted a range of smaller animal species, including wallabies, rabbits, ground dwelling birds, etc.

Geographical Range and Habitat

Fossil records and aboriginal art suggest that Tasmanian tigers were found all over the Australian mainland, and some parts of New Guinea, around 2000-3000 years ago. It was the apex predator, which fed on a range of grazing mammals, and hence preferred open forests and scrublands which acted as a grazing ground for the prey. Inhabiting the regions closer to the dense forests ensured that it could take shelter in case of any threat, mainly from humans. Other than these open grasslands, the Tasmanian tiger also preferred wetlands and eucalyptus forests. These creatures would take shelter in hollow logs, in the forests, or rock outcroppings in the hilly areas near the forests.

As human intervention in its natural habitat and competition with dingoes increased, the Thylacine species was forced to take shelter in isolated areas. By the beginning of the 20th century, their population was restricted to the island of Tasmania. However, lack of conservation measures on behalf of the authorities resulted in further decline in their population, and eventually they became extinct. The last Tasmanian tiger in captivity died at Hobart Zoo on 7th September 1936. Even though a few sightings of Tasmanian tigers have been reported over the last few years, none of these have been confirmed.

The Tasmanian tiger was eventually declared extinct by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 1986. Habitat destruction due to human encroachment and competition with other species were no doubt the major factors responsible for the extinction of Tasmanian tiger, but the delay in implementation of conservation measures was also equally responsible for the same. The authorities, however, don't seem to have learned any lessons from this mistake, and within a century of the extinction of Thylacine, its closest relative - the Tasmanian devil, has been brought to the verge of extinction.