Thylacine Researchers: Chris Tangey

"Tasmanian Tiger Hunt

Sydney, NSW-Last August report by two Tasmanian policemen of a Tasmanian tiger which ran across the road in front of their patrolcar has prompted Sydney conservationist and spare-parts salesmen Chris Tangey, 20, to attempt a marathon hunt in the rugged ranges of Tasmania.

He said, "Im convinced the tiger is alive. Iv'e been studying it since I was five years old, and all the sightings, al the literature, lead me to believe Im right." Dr Eric Guiler, Dean of Hobart University's science department and lecturer in zoology said he was quite convinced the tiger was not extinct.

Dr Guiler quoted a sighting in 1961 when a man accidently killed a tiger at Sandy Cape. Before it could be examined the body was stolen by a fisherman for crayfish bait. Dr Guiler led a tiger hunt in 1963 on a $2000 State government grant. He said, "We didn't actually find one, but at one stage spotted tracks which suggested the tiger had passed only four hours earlier."

Chris Tangey was hoping for a two-year two-man expedition but failed to gain any sponsership after calling 30 firms. He said, "Im hoping desperatley to get some backing before I leave on 26th March. If not I'll go anyway and use the money I've saved at work-about $600-to buy basic equipment."

Source: Gilroy, Rex. (1978). [title?]. Paranormal and Psychic Australian [1978](May): [pagination?]

In his own words:

"I spent two years looking for the thylacine between 1977 1979 and I'm convinced that they existed then. Not only were there 150 people I spoke to whose sightings I couldn't doubt (there were lots of mis-sightings as well), I photographed some prints of one on the edge of Arthurs' Lake in 1978. When I showed the photo to the then Curator of Zoology at Launceston's Queen Victoria museum, Dr. Bob Green, he said the following: "there are no proper casts of a thylacines' footprints so we can only go on the rather shrivelled up and distorted paws of museum exhibits. But if I was to imagine what one would look like it would look exactly like THAT" as he pointed to the photo.

I also believe I was followed by one in broad daylight at Reedy Marsh, North of Deloraine, judging by the strange elongated sitting marks (fresh) left by an animal as it waited for me to return from a dead end across a creek. There had been an amazing sighting nearby just two days before by a young couple.

The thing you must remember is that Thylacines are naturally curious, but at the same time have an incredible power of scenting things. Much better than any dog (not that they are any relation!)
In effect they can check you out and you'd never know they were around. Certainly all of the car headlight sightings I gathered, indicated that NONE of the animals was in any hurry whatsoever to get off the road. It was almost an arrogance born from being number one predator on the island for so long "Nothing can hurt me..."

Naturally a car can sneak up on them pretty quick as they come round the corner on a road at night, but they are not phased by cars or their lights. There eyes consistently give off a gold coloured reflection. While their curiousity gets the better of them , generally though, if they smell humans they will avoid them, and they can smell them for a very long distance indeed!

I returned last year and was devastated by the destruction that has occurred in the last quarter century where, then, recent sightings had been. Around Weldborough and other places in the North East, clearings and plantations had taken over what was temperate rain forest just back then. The government was even announcing plans to clear the Blue Tiers, one of the main areas Tigers still exist! (maybe)

I think the Authors of this website are quite right, the Tasmanian government knows thylacines may still exist, but are more interested in earning today's money by destroying its habitat through the evil practice of woodchipping.

People only get the government they deserve, and until Tasmanians realise there is far more money to be made by promoting long term eco-tourism than short term forestry, they are on a doomed course indeed."

Source: http://www.tasmanian-tiger.com/guestbook4.html

References:

Anonymous. (1978). Tasmanian tiger feared extinct. Calgary Herald, Tuesday, 31 October, p. 101.

Gilroy, Rex. (1978). [title?]. Paranormal and Psychic Australian [1978](May): [pagination?]

https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/175711869?q=subject%3A%22thylacine%22&c=picture&versionId=191395504

https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/7762133?lookfor=subject:%22Tangey,%20Chris%22&offset=2&max=2