Big Mouth – interviewees.
Eight video interviews were conducted by the artists of parties involved in the legacy of the (thought-to-be-extinct) thylacine or Tasmanian tiger. An edited film was shown as a projection as part of the Tramway installation, Glasgow 2004
BUCK & JOAN EMBERG: NATURALISTS/THYLACINE ENTHUSIASTS. The Embergs live in the bush in northern Tasmania. After seeing the thylacine one night on their way home, they have devoted much of their time to researching the animal as an extant species. They have a website dedicated to the thylacine and receive regular accounts of sightings.
NICK MOONEY: BIOLOGIST/PARKS AND WILDLIFE WARDEN FOR TASMANIA. Based in Hobart, during the nineteen eighties Nick headed a government team conducting the most official and most comprehensive nationwide searches for thylacines.
ELSIE CUPITT: Growing up in the early part of the Twentieth Century, Elsie was familiar with the animal both occasionally ‘in the wild’ and also in the zoo in Hobart.
KATHRYN MEDLOCK: ZOOLOGIST/KEEPER OF THE NATURAL HISTORY COLLECTION AT HOBART MUSEUM. In the process of compiling a database on the thylacine, Kathryn has traced over 400 specimens in collections across the world.
NED TERRY: FARMER AND THYLACINE HUNTER: Ned has devoted thirty years of his life searching for and attempting to trap the animal. He has never seen one. Since being charged and fined for setting traps he has confined his efforts to prove its existence through photography. In pursuit of this he has worked tirelessly, employing sophisticated equipment including trip wires and infra red photography.
ROBERT PADDLE: ANIMAL BEHAVIOURIST/PSYCHOLOGIST. Bob has published an acclaimed book entitled The Last Tasmanian Tiger, (Oxford University Press). He has a particular interest in the history of science and the effects of a colonial perspective on early study of Australasian animals.
KAREN FIRESTONE: GENETIC ANALYST. At the time of the interview, Karen was employed by Dr. Michael Archer at the Australian Museum in Sydney. The team was working on a genome project involving the identification and piecing together of the DNA profile of the thylacine, using samples from preserved specimens. The ultimate aim is to ‘resurrect’ the animal and ‘reinstate’ it in the Tasmanian bush. The project is ongoing.
PETER CARTER: EX TRAPPER/POLICEMAN(Retired). During the nineteen thirties Peter spent much time in the bush hunting various animals. Although he often saw and more often heard the thylacine he never attempted to kill them. His father accidentally caught one and brought it back to their shack. After five days it leapt over a beam and hanged itself by its tether.