Footage of the Last Known Tasmanian Tiger Released in Color

Overview

The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA) has released a rare colorized film of the last known Tasmanian Tiger for the first time to bring the animal’s beauty to the light. Tasmanian Tigers, or Thylacine, was a carnivorous marsupial that was indigenous to mainland Australia and Tasmania. Its last captive specimen died at the Beaumaris Zoo, Hobart, in September 1936. Ever since then, the Tasmanian Tiger has attained the status of a legend. Hundreds of sightings have been reported, but no evidence has been found to corroborate the claims of the species actually being alive.

The science and other stuff to know

In the video, the beast can be seen moving about in the cage, lying down, yawning, scratching, and sniffing the air. The colorization of the video provided by NFSA was undertaken by Samuel François-Steininger, who undertook extensive research with his team prior to initiating the colorization process.

‘For the thylacine, I faced a different kind of challenge – and responsibility. I had to take care of the rare filmed footage and pay tribute to the last representative of a species, which disappeared 85 years ago,” he said, according to an NFSA press release.

He stated that the main challenge they encountered during the process was the limited references they could rely on to add color to the footage. They not only studied various skins preserved in museums but also researched sketches and paintings to depict the animal in its true shade. The hard work has certainly paid off, as evidenced by the stunning results.

So what?

The project’s success opens up possibilities for the colorized rendering of similar complex footage. It can recreate the atmosphere and feel of eras gone by in a renewed detail and offer a refreshing view into the life of yesteryears.

Color also makes footage like Tasmanian Tiger’s more real for present-day viewers, helping them understand the beauty of extinct animals as well as the importance of preserving species. It can also provide an in-depth look into the artistic capabilities of, say, filmmakers of the past and immensely help students of arts, culture, and design.