What is the Tasmanian Wolf?
The Tasmanian Tiger is a large marsupial native to Tasmania. It is also known as the Tasmanian Wolf (especially in North America) and as the `thylacine’ after its Latin name, thylacinus cynocephalus. Most scientists believe the Tasmanian Tiger to be extinct, however each year there are about a dozen unconfirmed sightings in remote areas of Tasmania, and several reported sets of Tiger tracks. The Tiger was about 5 feet (1.5 m) long, and had light brown fur with dark stripes across its lower back. Tigers were common toward the start of the century but were hunted extensively because they threatened sheep. Tiger skins and a preserved Tiger can be seen at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery in Hobart.
