THE extinction of many prehistoric animals in Tasmania may have been caused by humans rather than climate change, as previously thought.
Tasmania's giant kangaroos, plus its marsupial "rhinos" and "leopards" were probably wiped out by hunting, it is argued in a paper by scientists who include Professor Robert Kalin, of Strathclyde University.
It was previously thought that humans
could not have played a part in the disappearance of the giant animals, because, by the time they arrived in Tasmania 43,000 years ago, the species were already extinct.
However, new evidence gathered using the latest radiocarbon and luminescence dating techniques suggests giant kangaroos survived longer than thought and were still there up to 2,000 years after humans arrived.
As the climate in Tasmania was not changing dramatically at this time, the researchers say this is evidence of these species being driven to extinction through over-hunting by humans. Professor Chris Turney, from the University of Exeter, a co-author of the paper, said: "It is sad to know that our ancestors played such a major role in the extinction of these species – and sadder still when we consider that this trend continues today."
Victims of humans' arrival on Tasmania are believed to include a rhino-like marsupial, Zygomaturus trilobus; a sloth-type animal, Palorchestes azael; three types of kangaroo; and the leopard-like Thylacoleo carnifex.
The scientists believe their research could be relevant to other geographical areas, particularly islands such as Britain.
The full article contains 250 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
