Catch that ‘Tiger’

Thursday, May 12th, 2005

Catch that ‘Tiger’ looks at the now-extinct Thylacine, the marsupial “tiger” or “wolf” of Tasmania:

This image is one familiar to many Australians. It’s also one of the most haunting to us as well. It’s from a grainy black and white film shot of the last remaining Tasmanian tiger, or Thylacine, in Hobart Zoo in 1933. The film runs only nine seconds — but it’s one of the few glimpses any of us will have of the now supposedly extinct mammal — remarkable for reportedly being able to open its jaws wider than any other mammal (a range of 120 degrees) and for being the world’s largest marsupial carnivore. And — for embedding itself into ‘Australian mythology’ as a mysterious and intangible, almost supernatural creature.

I’d propose that while Abraham Zapruder’s footage of JFK being shot in Dallas has an eerie resonance with many Americans, for me this simple, nine second film connects on an almost spiritual level for many Australians. It certainly haunts me every time I see it.

I found better Thylacine footage at the ARKive.

(Hat tip to Boing Boing for the original story.)

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