Private footage contains what is thought to be previously unseen footage of a Tasmanian tiger

Thylacine researchers digging through Tasmania’s state archives believe they have made a major historical discovery. WATCH THE VIDEO

Still from rare footage of a thylacine in a family film from the 1930s found by researchers trawling through footage from the Tasmanian state archives.

A GROUP of Tasmanian tiger researchers say they have discovered rare footage of a thylacine in a family film from the 1930s.

New South Wales tiger hunter Mike Williams said he and fellow researchers Gareth Linnard and Branden Holmes had been trawling through footage from the Tasmanian state archives when they made the find.

The clip was discovered in a home movie that runs for just 81 seconds in its entirety.

The film is believed to have been created between 1933 and 1936 and is listed as created by the Bester family.

The black and white silent film provides a close-up view of a thylacine in its enclosure at Hobart’s Beaumaris Zoo.

It offers a clear picture of the animal’s face, body and distinctive gait as it paces the enclosure, walking away from and towards the camera, turning its head to the side at the end. Along with the thylacine, the film depicts other animals at the zoo including a monkey and a polar bear, as well as a dog running along a beach.

Mr Williams said the clip was an incredible find for “science and tiger nerds”.

New South Wales tiger hunter Mike Williams.

The sequence adds to the previously known five films of thylacines from Beaumaris Zoo and two films from London Zoo.

“Ninety per cent of the time when I’m poking around I’m getting stuff that’s not that interesting, but for once we have hit a historical jackpot,” he said.

Mr Williams said the footage was a joint discovery with staff at Tasmania’s state library and archive service.

Mr Williams has been to Tasmania about 25 times since 2002 on thylacine hunting trips, mostly to speak with apparent witnesses and conduct research.

“I just find the animal an icon and it means so much to conservation efforts around the world and to other animals that are disappearing.

“There’s a very slim chance it does still exist … it’s something I would love to believe is true.”

Mr Williams, who is working on a book about the historical folklore aspects of the Tasmanian tiger, said he welcomed reports of sightings.

Mr Williams, Mr Holmes and Mr Linnard also run a Facebook group called Tasmanian Tiger Archives.

Although the thylacine is listed as “presumed extinct”, Tasmania’s Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment still records reported sightings.

Documents released by the department in October show eight sightings were reported in the past three years.

There were two reports originating from the Huon, one from Corinna, one from the Waratah area, one from the Mt Roland area, one from King William Saddle, one from the Midlands and one from Launceston.

To contact Mr Williams, phone [phone].