The tasmanian fox was known to eat sheep. Does it matter that it is now extinct?

Question

Help please...
would the population of sheep rise - but would rise too much, so it's overpopulated?? anymore ideas?

Answer 1

Of course it matters, I think you are referring to the thylacine which was a beautiful animal. The last one died in captivity but at least some archival footage was taking of it while it was still alive so we see what a unique animal it was. Many great animals have gone extinct at the hands of man and many more will to come. Just imagine going to present day New Zealand and walking in the woods when you see a 13 ft Moa in front of you that looks hungry.

Answer 2

Does it matter? The tasmanian tiger, I think you mean, the thylacine? There was a tasmanian lion too in prehistoric times but they're long gone. Tasmanian tigers only vanished in the last century though.

I don't think the purpose of the existence of an animal is to serve the interests of homo sapiens, so yes. It matters a great deal.

All living species are related and as such a powerful and technologically adept, not to say ubiquitous species we have a responsibility of care other animals Letting them go extinct is not much better than causing their extinction and puts blood on the hands of humanity that can never be washed off.

Its a common misconception that animals in the wild instinctively find a balance - there is only dynamic equilibrium, that can be shifted either way if something changes. I don't think there are many wild sheep left in Australia or Tasmania, if any.

Answer 3

Tasmanian fox eats sheep now extinct.
Human beings eat sheep soon to be extinct?
There is no relationship between being eaten and being extinct. If there was sheep would have been born as carnivores

Answer 4

for a start, sheep aren't usually wild, they're bred for wool / lambs etc so I doubt they get to breed that freely.

but yes, if they were wild and their main predator died out the population of sheep would rise. But if they had other predators as well the population may not increase, as there would be more sheep for other predators to eat, the populations of other predators would rise and keep the number of sheep in check.

Answer 5

Maybe, but I'm sure there are other factors.By the way, there is a theory that the tasmanian tiger is still alive.

Answer 6

It matters most to the tasmanian fox.

Answer 7

sheep are bread for human consumption, so there is no overpopulation.