To mark National Threatened Species Day, Zoos SA has brought back the extinct Tasmanian Tiger, albeit in spirit.

Keeper Meg Williams presented a keeper talk about the Tasmanian Tiger complete with a cardboard-constructed tiger made by the Zoos SA BEEZA team. This was followed by a talk about Quokkas, a species that although vulnerable to extinction is being saved by conservation groups including Zoos SA.

“It’s important to acknowledge both love and loss on National Threatened Species Day,” said Elaine Bensted, CE of Zoos SA.

“Giving a Tasmanian Tiger keeper talk drives home that species loss is real. But, it’s not all doom and gloom. While many of our native species are under threat there are conservation groups such as ourselves who are battling hard to keep those species threatened with extinction alive.

We are very grateful to the Deputy Premier for attending, we know she cares passionately about conservation.”

At 11am, zoo staff, volunteers and visitors also took part in the world’s first ‘Silabration’ which saw attendees, including Deputy Premier Susan Close, observe 30 seconds of silence followed by 30 seconds of clapping to acknowledge lost species as well as those that conservation groups such as Zoos SA are fighting to save.

Native species including Kangaroo, Koala, and Tasmanian Devil were also treated to enrichment from boxes featuring their IUCN classification status.

National Threatened Species Day is held annually on 7 September, chosen as it was the day that the last Tasmanian Tiger died in Hobart Zoo in 1936. The intention of the day is to raise awareness for native species of animals and plants that are at risk of extinction.

Australia is home to more than 500,000 animal and plant species, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. Over the last 200 years, more than 100 animal and plant species have become extinct and Australia has the highest rate of mammal extinction in the entire world.

As well as the many species it looks after within Adelaide Zoo and Monarto Safari Park, Zoos SA carries out on-ground conservation work with a caseload of 13 native conservation programs as well as supporting international conservation partners.

For more information about Zoos SA conservation programs, visit www.zoossa.com.au/conservation

Upcoming dates:

World Bilby Day: 11 September 2022

World Rhino Day: 22 September 2022

Boo at the Zoo: 28 October 2022