The Beast of Buderim.
For the months of June, July and August, The Sunday Mail, a Brisbane newspaper has been printing articles regarding the dreaded "Beast of Buderim", the lastest in a long line of alliterative mysterious animals. Up to 25 reports from the Buderim area (Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Oz) have been collected describing an elusive critter which resembles the Tasmanian tiger (Thylacinus cynocephalus). This marsupial is most commonly regarded as having been extinct on the Oz mainland for a few millenia, and in Tasmania since the 1930's. As the articles progressed, the sightings diverged into two distinct types - "mangy dogs"/thylacines and others which fit the descriptions of the elusive Queensland marsupial tiger/lion. The articles (and presumably the sightings as well), decreased in frequency during September and October, but November brought carnivorous marsupials back into the spotlight with Queensland marsupial tiger reports coming from north Queensland. The articles in their entirety, along with figures where I could get access to the scanner are reproduced below. All credits are given to The Sunshine Coast Sunday and The Sunday Mail, and in particular Toni McRae, the journalist who brought most of this to our attention. Also, at the bottom of the list, are some of my personal ravings on the topic. Please note that most of these have appeared before, either on the forteana list, or on alt.misc.forteana via Andy C's online reporting service.
THE THYLACINE:
- The largest carnivourous marsupial, also called the Tasmanian wolf or tiger.
- About 1.5 metres long, it resembles a dog with dark stripes along its grey-brown back.
From the Sunshine Coast Sunday 30/4/95.
