A palaeontology research team from Flinders University has made a significant discovery of ancient footprints along the Eyre Peninsula, demonstrating that the Tasmanian tiger, known scientifically as Thylacinus cynocephalus, roamed this part of South Australia about 120,000 years ago. These footprints provide valuable evidence of the thylacine’s existence on the mainland, where it is believed to have gone extinct around 2,000 years ago. Despite their extinction in mainland Australia, thylacines were still present in Tasmania during European settlement, with populations estimated at around 5,000 at that time.

The footprints belong to the Pleistocene epoch, a period rich in biodiversity and significant evolutionary developments. Researchers are now exploring further into the Bridgewater Formation, which comprises calcareous coastal dune ridges from this era. The ongoing examination of the formation aims to uncover more layers of history and fossils, potentially yielding additional insights into the ecosystems of the time and the factors that contributed to the thylacine's extinction.

This discovery not only enhances the understanding of the historical range of thylacines but also contributes to the broader knowledge of Australia's prehistoric fauna. It raises questions about the environmental changes that may have influenced species distribution and survival in the region, and it underscores the importance of fossil evidence in reconstructing past biodiversity and its implications for the present day.