#thylacine #science #extinction #research
They are very close to the de-extinction of the Tasmanian Tiger. I hope they succeed but there are a lot of questions regarding how that will affect an environment that has adapted to them not being there
If they could somehow manage to program them genetically to only prey on feral animals like rabbits, foxes, and cats, they'd be excellent.
@DyDave @NorthernInvader Reintroducing an apex predator has done wonders for Yellowstone National Park. I think I read they were also trying to alter their genetics to be resistant to cone toad poison. So if they can be natural pest control for them it would be a very good thing, no?
Natural pest control has long been a dream here, and it would be great! Very difficult to get right, tho.
The cane toads themselves were introduced with the idea that they'd control beetles in the sugar cane, but that didn't go so well 😬
@DyDave @NorthernInvader I know the story, but reintroducing a predator that was part of the environment is much safer. It's already adapted, and its natural prey still carry the genes that coevolved with the Thylacine. Wombats still have stony butts, for instance.
The non native species will not have those defense mechanisms, though I suspect rabbits will adapt since they're already adapted for wolves and coyotes.
I agree, but only wonder what would happen to small marsupials already under pressure from the ferals in places far south of where the cane toads have made it to so far. If the thylacines go after them, too, that's just added pressure in the short/medium term before they figure out that foxes can be yummy too and develop a method of catching them.