The Last Tasmanian Tiger: The History and Extinction of the Thylacine [Hardcover]

Robert Paddle (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521782198 | ISBN-13: 978-0521782197 | Publication Date: December 4, 2000 | Edition: 1

This insightful examination of the history and extinction of one of Australia's most enduring folkloric beasts--the thylacine, (or Tasmanian tiger)-- challenges conventional theories. It argues that rural politicians, ineffective political action by scientists, and a deeper intellectual prejudice about the inferiority of marsupials actually resulted in the extinction of this once proud species. Hb ISBN (2000):0-521-78219-8

Editorial Reviews

Review

"It is a fascinating blend of meticulous scholarship and barely suppressed fury... the book achieves a rich and plausible picture of the Thylacines' natural and unnatural history... The author builds a compelling case." William B. Sherwin, Quarterly Review of Biology

Book Description

This insightful book is the most complete and up-to-date examination of the history and extinction of one of Australia's most enduring folkloric beasts--the thylacine, otherwise affectionately known as the Tasmanian tiger. It challenges conventional theories explaining the behaviour and eventual extinction of the thylacine, arguing that rural politicians, ineffective political action by scientists, and a deeper intellectual prejudice about the inferiority of marsupials finally resulted in the extinction of this once proud species.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 284 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 1 edition (December 4, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521782198
• ISBN-13: 978-0521782197
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,394,453 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a book that does what the title says, May 14, 2002

By 

MR G J SLATER (LONDON, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Last Tasmanian Tiger: The History and Extinction of the Thylacine (Hardcover)

i write this recommendation to emphasise to potential readers that this is a very worthy study of the extinction of the Thylacine. whilst true that this book will not inspire hope that this most unique of creatures survives, it does unravel the reasoning behind it's rapid fall into extinction. Paddle offers a gentle introduction to the species' biology and ecology, aswell as a history in captivity, but it is his research of bounty records and contemperary accounts that sets this work above others. scientific maybe, but well planned, researched and written, and the twist he brings in regarding the reason for the bounty is worthy of an agatha christie novel! an excellent piece of work and well suited to conservation biologists, natural historians and anyone with an interest in the twentieth century's greatest loss.

6 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Controversial Theories Versus Accepted Logic, March 18, 2001

By 

Col Bailey (Tasmania; Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Last Tasmanian Tiger: The History and Extinction of the Thylacine (Hardcover)

Robert Paddle's controversial book, The Last Tasmanian Tiger, attempts to overturn most previously accepted anecdotal reasoning on a subject that is fast becoming popular world wide. Paddle has rather recklessly thrown caution to the wind in his sometimes dangerous dismantilling of sound anecdotal evidence, replacing it with his own logic, which is in many cases sadly wide of the mark. The Last Tasmanian Tiger could prove to be a dangerous book in the wrong hands, for it could lead astray those tender souls genuinely seeking information of this unique creature. Being pro-scientific as it is, Paddle's book is written in a style that can be hard to decipher for us mere mortals. But, all this aside, Paddle has done a tremendous ammount of research in assembling his book, some of it ground breaking, and from this point alone it makes worthwhile reading. The Last Tasmanian Tiger is definitely not suitable for the novice thylacine enthusiast.