Wednesday September 7 is National Threatened Species Day and marks the 80th anniversary of the death of the last known (captive) thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger).

Former Manning local and award-winning children’s author Aleesah Darlison’s latest picture book, Stripes in the Forest, which was released in August, is the story of the last thylacine in the wild.

“A lot of my books have featured Australian animals. They intrigued me as a child and they’re so unique,” she said.

“I’ve always loved thylacines. They are almost dog-like and it is such a shame we lost them. 

“What is also amazing is that people who are alive today have actually seen thylacines. Their extinction is still very recent.”

Stripes in the Forest celebrates the thylacine and draws attention to endangered animals and their fight for survival.

“It’s a good time to look at other endangered species, like the Tasmanian Devil,” she said.

Her book is written from the perspective of the last, wild female thylacine and Aleesah said the story itself came easily.

“They are talking to the reader and it naturally flowed as a figure in my head, as the mother of the species. Sometimes stories do come naturally.”

She describes the content of the story as “quite serious” and recommends children be at an age where they can handle that kind of book.

“While we can’t wrap our children in cotton wool, we do need to be careful. The book is factual but we also offer hope. Happy endings are a good thing for children.”

Aleesah's love of wildlife started when she was young and she recalls a memorable moment while riding horses with her father on the family property out the back of Krambach. “We stopped when we saw a dingo coming towards us. He turned and looked at us and then took off into the bush.”