MEDIA RELEASE
COMMEMORATION OF 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THYLACINE DEATH
Wednesday 7th September commemorates the 75th anniversary of the death of the last known Tasmanian Tiger in the Beaumaris Zoo in 1936,
Lord Mayor of Hobart, Alderman Rob Valentine said that as the Hobart City Council is the custodian of the old zoo, it is only right that there should be a special commemoration on this important Anniversary.
“This is not a happy day for any of us. Through ignorance the Thylacine, the world's largest carnivorous marsupial was hunted to extinction by farmers and bounty hunters.”
“For the Council it is important to mark the passing of the Thylacine in a special way. The Council managed Beaumaris Zoo from the time it re-opened at the Queens Domain site in 1923 until its closure in 1937,”said Alderman Valentine.
“The commemoration acknowledges the death of the last captive Thylacine while focusing on the plight of today‟s threatened species, particularly the Tasmanian Devil. National Threatened Species Day is held on 7th September each year in acknowledgement of the loss of the Tiger and the nation‟s threatened species.”
“The Council invites the community to join them in a free event at the Beaumaris Zoo on the Queens Domain from 11am to 1pm. We‟ve organised various activities including an art exhibition by children‟s illustrator, Ron Brooks, from his recently published book, „Dream of the Thylacine‟. Council‟s Bush Adventures program will have children‟s activities and there will be a historical tour of the Zoo by Council‟s Heritage Officer.”
“Ron Brooks will read from his book and other speakers include Louise Gillies a student from Landsdowne Crescent Primary School and Naturalist and Wildlife Author John Dengate who was the wildlife presenter on Burke‟s Backyard for many years.”
“Also at the Zoo will be information displays by various organisations involved in helping to save Tasmania‟s 700 threatened species including the Save the Devil Program, Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, the Tasmanian Land Conservancy and the RACT,” Alderman Valentine said.
“The lesson for all of us in the loss of the Tasmanian Tiger is simple: we don‟t want to lose any more of our unique Tasmanian species. Hobart City Council is doing everything it can to protect threatened species habitats in the reserves it manages. It‟s important that the community play its part too by getting involved in Bushcare projects, driving carefully at night through bushy suburbs to avoid road kill, removing weeds and planting local habitat plants in their gardens,” said the Lord Mayor.
For further information on National Threatened Species Day, visit the Council website
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