Lost remains of last-known Tasmanian tiger found at museum, solving 'zoological mystery'The remains of the last-known thylacine — thought lost for more than 85 years — were kept in a cupboard in a Tasmanian museum for decades, with their significance only recently being realised.Key points:- The thylacine species — also known as the Tasmania tiger — is declared extinct- The last animal in captivity died at the Hobart Zoo on September 7, 1936, the day now commemorated as National Threatened Species Day in Australia- The remains were thought lost, but researchers say a skin used as a touring exhibit and kept in a cupboard are now understood to be that of the final thylacineThe female thylacine, or Tasmanian tiger, died at the Hobart Zoo on September 7, 1936, and was supposedly transferred to the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG), but it has long been assumed its skin and skeleton went missing.But detective work from researcher Robert Paddle and museum curator of vertebrate zoology Kathryn Medlock has resulted in the remains, which had been stored in a cupboard of the museum's education office, now being understood as belonging to the last thylacine.Dr Medlock said a failure to correctly catalogue and record the specimen resulted in its skin being taken around the country as a travelling exhibit, with museum staff blissfully unaware they were handling the last of the species.'We didn't understand the significance'Dr Medlock said the disappearance of the specimen was also partly explained by the fact that no-one believed the female thylacine was the last one when it died."