Jackasslope - Cryptids & Co

“Treading Softly” by CherishLoveArt.

The Last Thylacine: September 7, 1936

Hey everyone! This may be a little late depending on your time zone (as I’m in Los Angeles / PST, I’m behind practically everyone). Sorry about that!

Today, September 7th, 2019, marks the 83rd Anniversary of the death of the last known thylacine in the Hobart Zoo. This animal is pictured above.

There are a lot of myths and misconceptions surrounding the thylacine - and this individual in particular - so I thought I’d make a post to correct a few of these. Keep in mind that new facts and evidence do occasionally come to light, so this is of course subject to change!

MYTH #1: The last thylacine was named Benjamin.

FACT: The name “Benjamin” was allegedly given to the animal by a keeper named Frank Darby. Darby later claimed to have worked with this animal in an interview that took place in 1968. However, no record exists of Darby ever working at the Hobart Zoo, and the zoo curator’s daughter Alison Reid denied that Darby ever worked there.** [Source]

** Note: Although the nickname “Benjamin” was likely made up by Darby after the fact, it has stuck, so many thylacine enthusiasts (including me) still use it to refer to the last individual.

MYTH #2: The last thylacine was actually female.

FACT: Zoologist David Fleay, who took much of the film footage of this individual, stated in a newspaper article and diary entry that the animal was male, referring to it as a “fine male marsupial wolf.” Furthermore, in 2011, careful video analysis by Dr. Stephen Sleightholme (director of the ITSD) confirmed the presence of a scrotal sac, indicating that the last thylacine was indeed a male. [Source, Source]

MYTH #3: “Benjamin” was part of the Mullins family group.

FACT: The Mullins female was snared while her young were still in the pouch. This assertion would assume that “Benjamin” was one of the pups, grew up in captivity, and was the last surviving member of the family. However, in photos (including the one on this post), the snare mark is clearly visible on the animal’s hind leg, indicating that it was wild caught. It is more likely that “Benjamin” was snared by a man named Elias Churchill, though this is also debated. [Source]

MYTH #4: The carcass of “Benjamin” was immediately discarded after death because it was in poor condition.

FACT: The carcass was in fact sent to the Tasmanian Museum. What happened to it after that is unknown. [Source]

In Washington State killing Bigfoot is a felony but in Texas Bigfoot is considered an invasive species and can be hunted at will.

This sounds like one of those cutesy funny cryptid posts but that is actually the legal status of Bigfoot in those two states, you can look it up.

Patterson-Gimlin Bigfoot clip, my extended GIF

Thylacine model in a natural setting. [x]

The term Blobsquatch is used when an image is taken of a supposed Sasquatch but nothing can be deciphered out of the vaguely human-shaped “blob”. These blobs can commonly be debunked as dead trees, tree stumps, or shadows. The term was first used on Bigfoot Forums in the early 2000s by a man by the name of Vito Quaranta. 

Some of the things that Gef the Talking Mongoose had said were written word for word in James Irving’s personal diary. It is thought that Voirrey Irving was behind it all using ventriloquism. 

“I am not evil. I could be if I wanted. You don’t know what damage or harm I could do if I were roused. I could kill you all, but I won’t.” 

“I am a ghost in the form of a weasel, and I shall haunt you with weird noises and clanking chains.” 

“Of course I know what I am, and you are not going to get to know, and you are only grizzled because I won’t tell you. I might let you see me some time, but thou wilt never get to know what I am.” 

“I have three attractions.  I follow Voirrey, Mam gives me food, and Jim answers my questions.” 

“I’ll split the atom! I am the fifth dimension! I am the eighth wonder of the world!” 

“If you are kind to me, I will bring you good luck. If you are not kind, I shall kill all your poultry. I can get them wherever you put them!” 

The Cù Sìth (ku-shuh) by Manecoon

According to Scottish folklore, the cù-sìth is said to be the size of a young bull with the appearance of a dog. Its fur is shaggy, and usually cited as being dark green though sometimes white. Its tail is described as being long and either coiled up or plaited (braided). Its paws are described as being the width of a man’s hand.

The cù-sìth was feared as a harbinger of death and would appear to bear away the soul of a person to the afterlife, similar to the manner of the Grim Reaper.

A tiny wolpertinger painting (appr 2 x 3.5in) for FC this upcoming weekend!!