Ep 6. The Tasmanian Tiger Down Under
- TV-PG
- July 15, 2018
- 41 min
-
9.6 (17)
In "The Tasmanian Tiger Down Under," the sixth episode of season 1 of Extinct or Alive, host Forrest Galante heads to Tasmania to look for evidence of the Tasmanian Tiger, a species that was declared extinct in 1936. Galante begins by examining old photographs and testimonies from locals who have claimed to have seen the animal.
The Tasmanian Tiger, also known as the Thylacine, was a large carnivorous marsupial that resembled a dog with stripes. Despite its name, the animal was not exclusive to Tasmania and was once found across mainland Australia. The species became extinct due to hunting and habitat loss.
Galante meets with a man named Neil Waters, the founder of the Thylacine Awareness Group of Australia, who has dedicated his life to finding evidence of the Tasmanian Tiger. Together, they travel to a remote region of Tasmania where there have been recent sightings of a large cat-like animal.
As they explore the wilderness, Galante and Waters come across evidence that could be from the Tasmanian Tiger, including a large paw print and scat that contains hair and bones. They set up camera traps in the area and spend the night in a remote cabin, hoping to capture footage of the elusive animal.
Throughout the episode, Galante also speaks with experts in thylacine behavior and DNA analysis, who explain the challenges of finding conclusive evidence that the species still exists.
The final moments of the episode are tense as Galante checks the camera traps, hoping to have captured footage of the Tasmanian Tiger. Without giving anything away, viewers will have to tune in to see if Galante's search was successful.
Overall, "The Tasmanian Tiger Down Under" is a compelling episode that blends adventure, natural history, and conservation. Galante is a captivating host who is passionate about his work, and viewers will be on the edge of their seat as he searches for evidence of a species that was once thought to be lost forever.