In Tasmania the species was still widespread and frequent at the beginning of the 19th century when European settlers arrived. After the introduction of sheep on the island a bounty was placed Van Diemens Land Company (1830) on the thylacine. In the 1860s the species was confined to the more inaccessible mountainous regions in the south-west of the island, but hunting with traps and dogs continued unabated. Between 1888-1909 the Tasmanian Parliament placed its own bounty of £1, roughly $100 in today's money; it is unknown how many bounties were paid by Van Diemens, but 2,184 hides were collected by the government before its bounty program was halted in 1909. Around the year 1910 the species was regarded as rare. Zoos around the world were looking for these animals. | In Tasmania the species was still widespread and frequent at the beginning of the 19th century when European settlers arrived. After the introduction of sheep on the island a bounty was placed Van Diemens Land Company (1830) on the thylacine. In the 1860s the species was confined to the more inaccessible mountainous regions in the south-west of the island, but hunting with traps and dogs continued unabated. Between 1888-1909 the Tasmanian Parliament placed its own bounty of £1, roughly $100 in today's money; it is unknown how many bounties were paid by Van Diemens, but 2,184 hides were collected by the government before its bounty program was halted in 1909. Around the year 1910 the species was regarded as rare. Zoos around the world were looking for these animals. |