Australia reports eight sightings of long-extinct Tasmanian tigers

Thylacines were found on the island of Tasmania, an island state off Australia’s south coast, until they were hunted to extinction

But a government document says several people have reported seeing them in the last three years

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An image of a stuffed Tasmanian tiger, or thylacine. File photo: AFP

Published: 2:00am, 20 Oct 2019Updated: 2:00am, 20 Oct 2019

Several people in Australia have reported seeing Tasmanian tigers, a large, carnivorous marsupial that went extinct about 80 years ago, according to a government report.

A newly released document from the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment details eight sightings reported in the last three years.

The animal, also known as a thylacine, had stripes, a pouch and a doglike head with large and powerful jaws, according to the Australian Museum.

Thylacines were found on the island of Tasmania, an island state off Australia’s south coast, until they were hunted to extinction.

A model of a Tasmanian tiger, which was declared extinct in 1936, is displayed at the Australian Museum in Sydney. Photo: AFP

The last known live thylacine was believed to have died at Tasmania’s Hobart Zoo in 1936. Threatened Species Day is held in Australia each year on September 7 to commemorate the anniversary of the animal’s death.

Between September 2016 to September 2019, the recently released document states that there have been seven sightings of the Tasmanian tiger. An eighth report filed in the time period says that the creature was spotted seven years ago.

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