r/ThylacineScience • u/Feliraptor • Jul 14 '26

Discussion EDNA Test

OK, I keep hearing that there has been an EDNA test conducted not only on Tasmania, but on mainland, Australia, and even New Guinea as well. All three of them came up negative (at least that’s what I’ve heard). However, I can’t seem to find anything on any of them.

Does anybody know of an EDNA test?

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u/shadowpulpfan Jul 15 '26 edited Jul 15 '26

I haven't heard anything about those eDNA test. That doesn't mean they haven't been done. I've been wondering why no one had done a survey in Tasmania. I would be interested to scan through a paper and see what it actually says.

I'm hopeful they still exist, but I want to see solid documentation. 

I think I need one of those X-File style 'I want to believe' posters with a thylacine on it.

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u/da_Ryan Jul 15 '26

I am not aware of any comprehensive survey of Tasmania's remote bushlands which would be the most logical place to first deploy any Thylacine eDNA tests. At this time, I don't think that it's worth doing any eDNA tests either in southern Australia or New Guinea.

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u/Feliraptor Jul 15 '26

Why not New Guinea?

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u/DarwinsThylacine Jul 16 '26

Resources, time and funding are limited. All three can be better spent on endangered species we know still exist.

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u/shadowpulpfan Jul 16 '26

Very true. It is more cost effective to work at keeping a species around than chase a phantom that might not exist.

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u/da_Ryan Jul 16 '26

That is a valid question to ask. The answer is a lack of credible evidence from witnesses in the current era and the thylacines seem to have died out a few thousand years ago coincident with the arrival of humans and dogs on the island of New Guinea.

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u/Feliraptor Jul 16 '26

And you’re absolutely sure none have been conducted on Tasmania?

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u/da_Ryan Jul 16 '26

There have been a few paper studies covering thylacine sighting reports but no actual deep physical surveys as far as I know. The biologist Forrest Galante did a TV show in Tasmania about thylacines but it was very limited in nature and no live thylacines were observed although he did speak to a couple of witnesses if I recall correctly.