RETURN OF THE
THYLACINE
WELCOME
There is genuine speculation as to whether a living Thylacine (the 'Tasmanian Tiger') might still be discovered in the grassland savannah or wilderness of Tasmania and beyond.
Educational research and media videos abound on the thylacine's history and deemed extinction in 1936. Skeptical academic and social debate abounds.
This sonic offering aims to celebrate the scientists, academic disciplines, trackers and community that have held vigil for decades now - imagining the tigers return. Sightings continue and cameras are in the field... stoicism and patience abounds.
HR Arts Factory (an arts-concept community studio) has crafted a musical story here, imagining the find of a living thylacine in the near future.
And the wondrous event this would entail, if it were to transpire. Hence the comedy in the chorus, 'I am the thylacine' . The marsupial announces 'victory' as it casually staggers into the Mole Creek hotel, astonishing the local patrons.
The Quest for de-extinction
Genetic restoration and engineering of a 'test-tube' thylacine is underway inside the TIGRR Lab at Melbourne University, headed by Professor Pask and team. This is assisted with philanthropic support, as well as a co-investment from the genetics and bioscience company, Colossal Biosciences (and using knowledge from CRISPR/Cas 9 technologies, where applicable).
This might well be the way the thylacine's de-extinction is ultimately realised. We await then, to see if this important venture can be progressed by the dedicated TIGRR team in the period ahead.
The implications this program presents for the preservation of other species is substantive for science and public alike .
rewild.org & Colossal partnership news
On 23 March 2024, rewild.org and Colossal Biosciences announced their investment partnership to accelerate the Tasmanian Thylacine de-extinction science project. Rewild's, 'Search for Lost Species expedition' program is likely to include Thylacine expeditions in the time ahead.
On 21 October 2024, it's announced that that 99.9% of the Tasmanian tiger's genome has been reconstructed in the lab, leaving just 45 gaps to close. The potential to return the species reaches a new milestone. And so it is...