31/08/2026
Our Tassie Tigers are soaking up the Launceston sunshine! ☀️ You’ll find these two thylacines looking very much at home amongst the flower beds of Civic Square.
Commonly known as the Tasmanian tiger because of the distinctive dark stripes across its back, the thylacine was actually a carnivorous marsupial, pouch and all. Thylacines once lived across mainland Australia, New Guinea and Tasmania, but by the time of European settlement they survived only here in Tasmania. During the 1800s, they were increasingly blamed for livestock losses, leading to widespread hunting and a government bounty. The last known thylacine died in captivity in Hobart in 1936.
Almost 90 years later, our fascination with them certainly hasn’t disappeared. The thylacine remains one of Tasmania’s most recognisable symbols and, if you believe certain corners of the Tasmanian population, possibly still roaming around out there somewhere... We’ll stick with the history books until someone brings us proof though! 😂
If these two spark your curiosity, you can head to QVMAG at Inveresk, where you can see a taxidermied thylacine and discover more of Tasmania’s natural history.
Or come and meet our Civic Square pair with us! 💚 We visit them on our Heart of Launceston walking tour, where they’re one of many stops that help us uncover the people, stories and history that have shaped Launceston and Tasmania.