Extinct Tasmanian Tiger Species Could be Resurrected Soon After Scientists Recover RNA Sample [Report]

Tasmanian tigers once roamed the bushes of Australia's island state of Tasmania, as well as mainland Australia and New Guinea.

Being a carnivorous marsupial, the thylacine, also known as the Tasmanian wolf, was an apex predator in the wild with a significant role in the ecosystem.

However, the marsupial mammal was driven into extinction almost 100 years ago, wherein hunting by humans became the largest factor in the species' decline.

Although the thylacine has been officially declared by scientists as extinct, there have been several unconfirmed Tasmanian tiger sightings over the past several decades.

Nevertheless, there has been no concrete evidence that the extinct wild animal still exists.

Now, the development and advancement in the field of genetics has allowed scientists to potentially resurrect the thylacine soon after recovering the RNA sample of the species, according to reports.

Tasmanian Tiger Resurrection

Scientists are currently "one step closer" on resurrecting the Tasmanian tiger 87 years after the species' last member in captivity, named Benjamin, died from exposure at the Beaumaris Zoo in Hobart, Tasmania, in 1936.

While the last thylacine died a long time ago, researchers were still able to retrieve a genetic blueprint of the extinct species, allowing the potential revival of the animal through artificial means.

A Texas-based biotechnology company, called Colossal Biosciences, is planning to bring back the Tasmanian tiger using an unprecedented gene editing technology called CRISPR, according to a cited report by the organization Conservation International earlier in September.

To achieve the monumental task, DNA from preserved thylacine specimens will be integrated into the genome of one of the extinct Tasmanian tiger's closest living animal relatives: members of the family Dasyuridae.

This animal family of marsupials are native to Australia and New Guinea, including the Tasmanian devils, wombats, tiger quolls, marsupial moles, and brown antechinus.

Also Read: Tasmanian Tiger Sightings: Video of 'Family' Resurface Online, Can it Debunk Extinction Theories?

Tasmanian Tiger Extinction

While ancient history tells us that Tasmanian tigers were once abundant around the world, the species mysteriously disappeared approximately 2,000 years ago except in the island of Tasmania, as mentioned earlier.

While the thylacine thrived in modern history, their population was threatened by European colonization of Australia during the late 18th century.

According to the National Museum Australia (NMA), there were around 5,000 Tasmanian tigers at the time of European settlement of the continent.

The NMA highlights that several factors such as excessive hunting, habitat loss, and introduced diseases led to the rapid extinction of the marsupial species.

Tasmanian Tiger Sightings

For decades, biologists believed the last surviving member of the thylacine species died in captivity at the Tasmanian zoo in 1936, according to the Smithsonian Magazine.

Still, a new study published earlier this year in the journal Science of The Total Environment suggests that alleged or unconfirmed sightings indicate the species lived longer for decades, which is more than previously thought by scientists and conservation authorities.

Related Article: Tasmanian Tiger Survived Later Than We Thought: Scientists Say