When was the thylacine first discovered?

Answer 1

The Thylacine was a carnivorous marsupial, sometimes incorrectly called the Tasmanian tiger or Tasmanian wolf. It was, of course, discovered by indigenous Australians centuries ago. This is known through ancient cave paintings.

In 1642 Abel Tasman became the first to make note of the Thylacine. He recorded that one of his crewmen had found "footprints not ill-resembling the claws of a tiger" on the shores of Van Diemen's Land. Therefore it is best to say it is unknown who first discovered it, but Abel Tasman is credited with the discovery.

In April 1805 William Paterson, the Lieutenant Governor of Tasmania, sent a detailed description of the Thylacine for publication in the Sydney Gazette after an animal had been killed by dogs. At the time, he described it as "an animal of a truly singular and nouvel description".