# How likely is it that the Tasmanian Tiger is not extinct? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 22, 2011, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-the-tasmanian-tiger-is-not-extinct/579375 "2011-04-22T17:03:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-the-tasmanian-tiger-is-not-extinct/579375/61 "2023-11-30T21:07:27Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I need to point out that the Barbary Lion is not a species, or even a subspecies, it was just a _population._ Cite, because that’s not what my research indicates. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-the-tasmanian-tiger-is-not-extinct/579375/62 "2023-12-01T01:30:06Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Cite, because that’s not what my research indicates. _The **Barbary lion** , also called the **North African lion** ,[[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbary_lion#cite_note-Pease1913-1) **Atlas lion** ,[[2]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbary_lion#cite_note-Burger2006-2) and **Egyptian lion** ,[[3]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbary_lion#cite_note-Geptner-3) is an extinct [population](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Population) of the lion subspecies [Panthera leo leo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panthera_leo_leo) ._ ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-the-tasmanian-tiger-is-not-extinct/579375/63 "2023-12-01T18:54:23Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > The **Barbary lion** , also called the **North African lion** ,[[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbary_lion#cite_note-Pease1913-1) **Atlas lion** ,[[2]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbary_lion#cite_note-Burger2006-2) and **Egyptian lion** ,[[3]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbary_lion#cite_note-Geptner-3) is an extinct [population](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Population) of the lion subspecies _[Panthera leo leo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panthera_leo_leo)_ . Which appears to contradict your earlier post: > [@DrDeth](#): > > I need to point out that the Barbary Lion is not a species, or even a subspecies… Regardless, the population known as Barbary Lions are extinct. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-the-tasmanian-tiger-is-not-extinct/579375/64 "2023-12-01T19:00:49Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Which appears to contradict your earlier post: No it doesn’t. _Panthera leo leo_ is the same subspecies as all other African lions; the Barabary lion is a distinct _population_. You literally quoted him not contradicting his earlier post and said that he did. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-the-tasmanian-tiger-is-not-extinct/579375/65 "2023-12-01T19:16:56Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > You literally quoted him not contradicting his earlier post and said that he did. No I didn’t, I said they appeared to. I’m not a lion expert. This side discussion is about Barbary Lions being extinct. Deths’s comment was an attempt to challenge that by saying s/he “needed” to point out that they weren’t really extinct because all Northern Lions are the same. It’s pedantic and not germane to the issue of of whether the population known as Barbary Lions are extinct - they are. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-the-tasmanian-tiger-is-not-extinct/579375/66 "2023-12-01T19:45:03Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > This side discussion is about Barbary Lions being extinct. Deths’s comment was an attempt to challenge that by saying s/he “needed” to point out that they weren’t really extinct because all Northern Lions are the same. I did not read it that way, at all. He pointed out that the Barbary Lion is a population and not a species but I didn’t see anything challenging it being extinct, particularly since he said: > [@DrDeth](#): > > I need to point out that the Barbary Lion is not a species, or even a subspecies, it **was** just a _population_ Emphasis mine. ---
**Author:** ![bobsmom101](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobsmom101/32/2867_2.png) [@bobsmom101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobsmom101)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2023, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-the-tasmanian-tiger-is-not-extinct/579375/67 "2023-12-08T16:59:13Z")
I hope this post doesn’t count as a hijack – I’ll start a new thread if the mods as for it to be moved. It’s that time of year when I look for a few good tax deductible charities, and one of my favorites is “Revive & Restore,” a 501 c3 biotech org that is trying to revive endangered species, including of course, thylacines. [https://reviverestore.org/](https://reviverestore.org/) ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-the-tasmanian-tiger-is-not-extinct/579375/68 "2024-10-23T03:29:26Z")
Progress, but no indication of when they expect success: > **[De-extinction company provides a progress report on thylacine efforts](https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/10/effort-to-bring-back-the-tasmanian-tiger-builds-steam/)** > > Stem cell editing, complete genome, and cane toad resistance mark necessary steps. ---
**Author:** ![Everlong88](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/everlong88/32/17800_2.png) [@Everlong88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Everlong88)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-the-tasmanian-tiger-is-not-extinct/579375/69 "2024-10-23T07:15:45Z")
Kangaroos you’re being put on notice!!! ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-the-tasmanian-tiger-is-not-extinct/579375/70 "2024-10-23T09:07:43Z")
Welcome to Holocene Park! ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2024, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-the-tasmanian-tiger-is-not-extinct/579375/71 "2024-10-25T15:18:52Z")
What could possibly go wrong? ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2024, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-the-tasmanian-tiger-is-not-extinct/579375/72 "2024-10-25T15:56:33Z")
If it’s in a movie, it’s required that something go wrong. If not the thylacine, then something to do with _Smilodon_ or _Aenocyon dirus_. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2024, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-the-tasmanian-tiger-is-not-extinct/579375/73 "2024-10-25T16:06:03Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > What could possibly go wrong? Lycanthropic marsupial smuggling rings. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2024, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-the-tasmanian-tiger-is-not-extinct/579375/74 "2024-10-25T16:10:27Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > Lycanthropic marsupial smuggling ring Band name. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2024, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-the-tasmanian-tiger-is-not-extinct/579375/75 "2024-10-25T18:07:37Z")
They’rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrre great! ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2024, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-the-tasmanian-tiger-is-not-extinct/579375/76 "2024-11-04T21:12:34Z")
A recent NPR story: > **[Scientists may be able to revive the Tasmanian tiger from extinction. But...](https://www.npr.org/2024/10/27/nx-s1-5165198/scientists-may-be-able-to-revive-the-tasmanian-tiger-from-extinction-but-should-they)** > > A company says it is pulling together DNA to try to re-create the Tasmanian tiger, which went extinct. But some people question whether it makes sense to restore creatures to a different world. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-the-tasmanian-tiger-is-not-extinct/579375.md?page=3)