Description
Recorded by pioneers as far back as 1805, the Tasmanian tiger has become an intensely mystifying Australian icon, whose entire existence has become the stuff of both fable and legend.
Originally identified as Thylacinus Cynocephalus, considered a "pouched dog with a wolf's head", the Tasmanian tiger has both baffled and challenged the scientific community for centuries. With very little evidence there has been much speculation about the Thylacine's existence, behaviour and sudden extinction from the otherwise lush Tasmanian wilderness.
This program investigates a chequered past and puts the speculation into perspective, taking into account the tragic culling and 'bounty era' where the carnivorous creatures were thought to be solely responsible for a considerable loss of farmers' livestock.
Balancing the facts with personal reflections from Tasmanian locals, scientists and other informed practitioners, The Tasmanian Tiger is a thought-provoking and revealing look at the extraordinary life and death of one of Australia's most mysterious marsupials.
