ARFRA is aware that witnesses occasionally report sightings of animals which do not appear to fit the descriptions of modern or recently extinct species. Several researchers have suggested that reported sightings of big cats in Australia may be ascribed to a relict population of the fossil "Marsupial Lion", Thylacoleo carnifex. However, because we cannot know the outward physical appearance of Thylacoleo, we cannot assume that the animal seen was the Marsupial Lion. It may have been an unusual variant of a known species, or even another unknown and undescribed species. We welcome details of any unusual sighting to add to our database against the day when there is enough data to warrant serious research on Thylacoleo and other unidentified animals.

See www.thylacoleo.com for further information.

Yowies

ARFRA sometimes receives reports of sightings of Yowies – large homonids typically over 2m in height, covered with long body hair and normally observed in or near dense bush.