Saving the devil you know

IN 1933, a rare Tasmanian tiger was snared by a trapper. In those days, exotic creatures were sold to fairground operators who put them on display for money. This particular animal, however, ended up in Hobart Zoo where it was christened Benjamin by a journalist, even though its sex was never reliably determined.

Benjamin survived at Hobart for three years until, locked out of its shelter during a spell of hard weather, it died of cold and neglect. Its body was not preserved; a few photographs and a 30 second black-and-white film sequence of the striped dog-like creature are all that remain.

Despite its appearance, the Tasmanian tiger was a shy animal. Somewhat resembling a wolf, it was accused of taking livestock and persecuted into extinction. Claims of tiger sightings are made from time to time but no reports have been substantiated since the 1930s. Benjamin was probably one of the last of his species. The demise of such a unique animal is a tragedy.