Speaker 1: Yao. Hello everyone, and welcome to the Animal Tales podcast,
where you suggest the animal for us to write a
story about. My name's Josephine and I've got a brand
new animal story here just for you. There are over
four hundred and fifty animal tales now and all are
available on our premium service alongside over eighty premium only
stories for a tiny fee. They are all advert free.
Hugo is from Tasmania and he would like a story
with a rhino, a Tasmanian tiger, a platypus, and an echidnaer.
You can learn more about these creatures in the Animal
facts after the story. Now settle back, relax, and I'll
begin a Tasmanian discovery. Hugo wanted to write a book.
He'd wanted to for a long time, but the young
Rhino had struggled to come up with a good idea.
All his ideas were either too complicated or had been
done before. But then one day he had a brilliant idea.
He would write a book about animals that were extinct.
Extinct animals were fascinating but also a little sad at
the same time. Now those animals were gone, it was
easy to forget that they'd ever existed, but not if
Hugo could help it. He could think of the mammoth,
the dodo, and the Tyrannosaurus Rex straight away, but there
were so many others. By writing about them, he'd be
able to keep the memory of them alive within the
pages of his book and with love in the hearts
of his readers. So with which animal should he start?
After much thought, he decided to begin with the Tasmanian tiger.
Hugo began his research about the Tasmanian tiger by reading
all about it on the Internet and by borrowing books
from the library. The most surprising thing he'd discovered was
that Tasmanian tiger had only been extinct for less than
one hundred years. They had lived on the island of Tasmania,
and like kangaroos and koalas, were marsupials. They had looked
similar to a fox or a dog, but with stripes
down the lower half of their back, and it was
those stripes that had earned it its name of the
Tasmanian tiger. All this information was a good start, but
Hugo felt he needed more. That was when he realized
he should traveled to the island of Tasmania itself. So
he booked his ticket from Kenya to Australia, and off
he went. Tasmania was off Australia's south coast, covered in
thick forests and rocky mountains. Hugo arrived there, stopping at
a small coastal town populated by platypuses, wombats, and other
familiar Australian creatures. Maybe one of these animals will be
a Tasmanian tiger expert, he thought. Maybe one is a
professor who has studied them, or might have had grandparents
who had once lived alongside a living Tasmanian tiger. It
was an exciting thought. Hugo's eye was immediately drawn to
the town's library. This would be a great place to start.
Librarians were great sources of information. If they didn't know
an answer, then they knew where to look. Hugo pushed
open the heavy library door, and the very first thing
he saw almost made him topple back through It. Sat
behind the counter reading a book was a Tasmanian tiger.
Hugo blinked, rubbed his eyes and had another look. The
very much alive Tasmanian tiger was still sat there, although
she was too engrossed in her book to notice the
baffled rhino until he took an awkward step forward. Hello,
she said, snapping her book shut. Can I help you?
Hugo looked down at her name tag It said Tara. Hello, Tara,
said Hugo slowly. I'm really sorry if this is an
odd question, but you are Tasmanian tiger. Tara laughed. Oh, yes,
well you could say that, she giggled. Although around here
we prefer the name Thilocene. I see, said Hugo. And
when you say we, how many thylocenes are we talking about? Oh?
I'm not sure, said Tara thoughtfully. We tend to live
quiet lives. We're lone as you see, right, and sorry,
just one more question, said Hugo, taking a deep breath.
Are you aware that the rest of the world thinks
that you're extinct? It was the Tasmanian Tiger's turn to
look surprised. Extinct Tara repeated, how old I know. I'm
quite shy and tend to keep to myself, but I'm
definitely not extinct. I can see that, said Hugo. Well,
thank you for answering. Why are the questions, wondered Tara.
I was going to write a book about extinct animals,
explained Hugo, and start with Tasmanian tigers. But now I
guess I'd best go home and think again. Oh what
a shame, said Tara. Have you traveled far all the
way from Kenya, said the rhino. You know, it really
is strange that the world thinks that the Tasmanian tiger
is extinct. As he said these words, something occurred to him.
I was going to write the wrong book, he declared.
How do you mean, asked Tara, Because of you, said Hugo.
You're the story. You're what the book should be about.
But I'm just a librarian, protested Tara meekly. And you're
also an animal that the world thinks no longer exists.
Hugo gushed, I'll write a book about how we thought
that Tasmanian tiger was extinct but we were wrong. I
can interview you and write all about you. It'll be
a best seller, it will, asked Tara. Doubtfully. I'm sure
nobody will want to read about me. I'm really not
that interesting. Oh but you are, Hugo disagreed. The horn
on the end of his nose bobbing up and down
as he nodded. You're an amazing discovery. Animals will come
from far and wide just to meet you. But the
Tasmanian tiger looked unsure. I don't really like much attention,
she said, But your story is so important, Hugo insisted,
is it, said Tara doubtfully. Well, you do seem very
sure about it. All, that's the spirit, said Hugo, pulling
out his notepad. I'll start writing some questions right away,
and perhaps a photo shoot, maybe meet the press. Oh,
and I'll need to know your family history. Hugo was
jotting down his thoughts as his mind buzzed with ideas,
but in all his enthusiasm, he didn't once notice the
nervous look upon the Tasmanian tiger's face. Tara, though despite
her reluctance, didn't want to let the rhino down. She
shared her life history and family with Hu Hugo, and
even introduced him to the other animals in town who
knew her. Tara, Oh, yes, lovely girl keeps to herself, mostly,
said the platypus who owned the grocery store. She's never
been one for the spotlight, said a bandicoot. If I'm honest,
I'm surprised that she's even doing this book. Only Thylacene
I've ever met, said an Echidna. Although my grandpappy knew
a couple, he said, they rarely left their house like Tara.
They were on the shy side. Everyone clearly thought a
lot of Tara, and all said what a quiet private
animal she was. And nobody he spoke to knew of
another Thylacene. This didn't stop Hugo from working on his book.
With Tara's help, he soon had a finished manuscript he
could present to a publisher, and once he had a publisher,
the book would be printed. He was already daydreaming about
it flying off the shelves. Maybe he'd even become famous.
He was so sure that publishers would want to sign
him up that he decided to invite as many as
possible to the town. There he could reveal all his
hard work alongside Tara. It would be an auction, and
he'd sign up with whichever publisher offered him the best deal.
It would be sensational. The publishers were invited to attend
an event the following week. Hugo set up a small
stage and seating in the town square. Although the people
of the town suspected the book was about Tara, nobody
knew for sure, and all the publishers knew was that
Hugo had said it was something very very special. They
duly arrived and took their seats, with the locals gathering
around to watch. Are you looking forward to meeting every one, Tara,
Hugo asked behind the stage. They'll have so many questions
for you, but do remember to keep something secret. We
still want them to buy the book. I'll try, was
all the Tasmanian Tiger could reply. Hugo peered past the
stage at the assembled crowd and grinned. He could hardly
contain his excitement. In a moment, he would reveal that
Tasmanian Tiger to the publishers, get his book deal and
become a best selling author. He already had plans for
Tara and himself to go on a world tour. I'd
best get things started, Tara, said Hugo gleefully. Are you
ready to become famous? Oh? I don't need all that,
Tara blushed. I'm happy to help you know, answer some questions,
but then all I want to do is head back
to my library. You can forget about the library, Hugo said.
After this, we'll need to leave Tasmania. We will, whimpered Tara.
Of course, Hugo said, We'll need to start drumming up
some excitement for the book. I've got a list of
thirty seven countries that will need to visit. We'll have
to meet scientists and other authors, and presidents and journalists.
Everyone will want to talk to you. You're the animal
that beat extinction. Tara looked horrified. It wasn't the response
he'd been expecting. Tara, are you all right, the rhino asked.
I thought you would be as excited as I am, Hugo.
I wasn't expecting all of that, she said quietly. I
was hoping to stay in my quiet town with my
kind neighbors and my lovely books. But I don't want
to let you down. I'll do my best. I'll try
to get used to it. I'm sure I'll be fine.
Despite the waiting publishers all seated before the stage, and
the surrounding crowd, all waiting to see what was happening,
Hugo at last took a moment to think but you
won't be fine, will you? He said gently. Oh, Tara,
I'm so very sorry. I've been so caught up in
the excitement of meeting you and the book that I
haven't once thought about what you want. Tara smiled nervously
but said nothing. I haven't been thinking about you at all,
he admitted, turning to walk on to the stage. The
book about you was a foolish idea, but I aim
to put that right. But what about the publishers, she asked, worriedly.
Leave that to me, he said, and walked on to
the stage to applause from the audience. Hello, publishers, thank
you all for coming. As many of you may know,
that Tasmanian tiger, also known as the Thylocene, has been
extinct for almost one hundred years. But to day, I'm
here to announce. He turned towards the edge of the stage,
where Tara was waiting out of sight. I'm here to
announce my new book about this amazing animal. It's about
an animal we'll never get to meet again. But thanks
to some amazing collaborations with the animals of this town,
I'm going to be able to show the thylacine in
such a way that you'd believe it was still alive
to day. It's going to be a book like no other,
about a creature like no other. Hugo talked, and the
publishers listened before asking questions of their own. It certainly
was a unique idea for a book, and it got
plenty of interest. By the time Hugo was done and
the event was over, he had struck a deal his
book would be published. You didn't mention me at all,
said a grateful Tara afterwards. No, I didn't, Hugo nodded.
You deserve your privacy and your quiet life. You don't
need to be paraded before the world, not if you
don't want to. It means a few changes to my book,
but it's nothing I can't manage. I'm so relieved, smiled Tara.
I really didn't want to give up all this, Hugo
smiled back. As far as the world is concerned, that
Tasmanian tiger will remain extinct, But just maybe after they
read my book, they'll know the thilacene just a little
bit better. Just not the fact that one is working
in Tasmania as a librarian. Animals fat rhinos are often
said to have poor eyesight, but there's little evidence to
back this up. A recent study suggests they may be
able to see as well as a rabbit, rat seal.
Tasmanian tigers, or thylocenes, were until recently the largest marsupial carnivore.
Their front ends resembled a dog, while the back ends
had a stiff tail like a kangaroo's and were covered
with around fifteen stripes. On the Australian mainland, the Tasmanian
tiger has been extinct for two thousand years, but it
survived on Tasmania for much longer, meaning we even have
photographs of it. Thank you for your suggestions, Hugo. We
hope that you all enjoyed the story. Wherever you're listening
in the world, don't forget to look for our Animal
Tales books over on Amazon great bedtime reading, especially if
you've discovered the joy of reading for yourself. Make sure
you join us next time for another great animal tail.
Good Bye,