Species

The last captive Thylacine, captured in 1933 and referred to as Benjamin (although it was most probably a female specimen) later died in the Hobart Zoo on 1936-09-07 (now known as Threatened Species Day in Australia). She is believed to have died from neglect, suffering exposure to the cold and no access to sheltered sleeping quarters. A short black-and-white film was made of the captive pacing back and forth in its enclosure. The photographer, the naturalist David Fleay, was bitten on the buttocks whilst taking the photograph.
Official protection of the species by the Tasmanian government was belatedly introduced in 1938.
The results of various subsequent searches indicate a strong possibility of survival of the species in Tasmania into the 1960s. Searches by Dr. Eric Guiler (considered a leading authority on the species) and David Fleay in the north-west of Tasmania found possible footprint and scats and heard presumed vocalisations as well as anecdotal evidence from people presumed to have sighted the animal. Despite the searches, no conclusive evidence was found to point to continued existence.
The Thylacine held the status of "endangered species" until 1986, when it was declared extinct by international standards. That standard states that any animal that has not been proven to exist for 50 years is declared extinct. Since no definitive proof of the thylacine exists since "Benjamin" died on September 7, 1936, the thylacine sadly now met that official criteria.