Frank Haes' thylacine

Sleightholme, Stephen R; Campbell, Cameron R; Kitchener, Andrew C

Frank Haes' thylacine

Resource type

Journal article

Creator (person)

Sleightholme, Stephen R

Campbell, Cameron R

Kitchener, Andrew C

Date published

2016

Abstract

Until recently, the earliest surviving photograph of a thylacine (albeit that of a dead trophy specimen) was from 1869. An earlier photograph, taken in 1864 by Frank Haes of a living thylacine at London Zoo, was known to have existed, but was feared lost or destroyed. This paper describes its recent rediscovery, and the identity of the thylacine it portrays. The Haes photograph is the only known image of a living thylacine from the 19th century and comprises a stereo view and lantern slide, both of which are presented together here for the first time.