Tasmanian tiger babies could be a reality 'within 10 years', Melbourne University team says after partnering with US firm Colossal

Scientists say humans could see thylacines in fenced-off areas of the Tasmanian wilderness in a decade — close to 100 years after the species went extinct. Key points: Partners in a new science venture say a living baby thylacine might be as little as 10 years away There has not been a verified thylacine sighting since 1936 Scientists now say the fat-tailed dunnart could be used as a surrogate for the Tasmanian tiger Thylacines, or Tasmanian tigers, were the largest carnivorous marsupial until 1936, when the last one in captivity perished at a Hobart zoo. Professor Pask, who heads the Thylacine Integrated Genomic Restoration Research lab — and is described as the "leading marsupial evolutionary biologist and world's foremost Tasmanian tiger expert" — said "we've got the technology at our finger tips". In a statement, Colossal chief executive, tech entrepreneur Ben Lamm, said "we take DNA from existing species that are the closest relatives, in the case of the thylacine it's the fat-tailed dunnart". For American thylacine fan Heather Carey, the prospect of seeing a living Tasmanian tiger in 10 years would be a dream come true "They're really unique, they look really cool, and I think it's amazing that they are related to kangaroos," Ms Carey said.