Tassie Tiger couldn't kill sheep ... so what did?

[Pandabear]

This is interesting. This is on a website for the Centre for Fortean Zoology Australia, and it is a study which says that apparently the Tassie Tiger's jaws weren't strong enough to kill sheep. So what was kiling the sheep in Tasmania back then that led to the killing of Tassie Tigers? Hmmmm. I wonder.

http://www.cfzaustralia.com/2011/09/thy ... -kill.html

[Mike Williams]

So what was kiling the sheep in Tasmania back then that led to the killing of Tassie Tigers? Hmmmm. I wonder.

Dogs and a harsh enviroment ...which lead to stupid politiicans to allow the bounty system.

[jeffa]

It says in the report that it was more capable preying on smaller animals such as wallabys and possums, wouldn't a newborn lamb be in the same size cataegory as a wallaby? Does anyone know if these guys were solitary hunters or did they attack in small groups? If so harassment and terrifying a sheep into exhaustion may leave a sheep easy prey.
Also reduced habitat destruction to make way for farmland probably made the tigers attack larger prey items that they normally would not go after due to desperation, thus more incidents on farms.

[forestguy]

I haven't read the full report yet, but I have to say that the results in that article are surprising.

Mike, didn't Paddle have a section on physiology/sheep predation in his book? I don't remember what he said though...

Odd that they had the large body size if they were only on the same diet as other (smaller) predators... where's the evolutionary benefit?

[Ruby]

Hi ForestGuy,

Paddle explored the sheep predation theory at length in his book and he was pretty sceptical, considering there were only about six 'eyewitness' accounts of Thylacines attacking sheep.

That's not to say they didn't snack on lambs and other similar-sized animals such as wallabies etc.

R

[ken]

back in the 60,s there were a lot of reported sightings in the south east of south aust. and in fact, near the keith railway station by some old lady. remember having my rabbit traps raided and tracked the culprit for some distance in soft sandy soil, with my mother in tow. i sketched the pad and took it into sa museum. was ushered out back to an office, introduced to some bloke. the resident expert. upon showing him the sketch was aked what book i copied it from. after relaying the full story to the bloke, i was called a lier so i reached over the desk and grabbed the bloke by the coller and dragged him half way across his desk. whilst very pointedly informing the philistine that indeed i was not. the person that had ushered me to the meeting was asked to get rid of me by one very scared desk hopper. point is, we had about 9 thousand head of sheep and it was taking my rabbits. makes u think there may be something, but not everything in the chaps comments about sheep predation. ken

[Darwinist]

G´day Ken,
Any chance you would post your drawing on the forum? I´ll be most interested, and I´m sure many others would be likewise.

[Ruby]

Fascinating story Ken, thanks for sharing.

Cheers,

R