In the absence of zoo records, historical newspaper articles can often be of value in filling in the missing gaps.  In an article entitled "Tasmanian Fauna"  that appeared in the Mercury newspaper of the 5th October 1910 (p. 4), the number of thylacines procured for the Beaumaris Zoo (SB) between 1908 and 1910 is noted:

   "Mrs. Roberts, of Beaumaris, has shipped to Melbourne for transhipment to the London Zoological Gardens, a pair each of Tasmanian tigers (Thylacinus cynocephalus) and devils (Sarcophilus satanicus).  Mrs. Roberts has been fortunate in procuring no less than seven tigers (a mother and three young ones being included) from October, 1908 to June, 1910.  Of these, five have been shipped to the London society, and the remaining two it is expected will stay permanently at Beaumaris.  Tigers and devils are most difficult to obtain alive, being frequently injured when captured, and, in consequence, have to be destroyed".

    Guiler (1985, p. 55) lists only one of these seven thylacines - that of the Blackwood capture of the 18th June 1910.  A search of Tasmanian newspapers between 1908 and 1910 has enabled the remaining six thylacines to be identified.

    The arrival of the first thylacine at Beaumaris is documented in an article in the Mercury newspaper of the 7th October 1908 (p. 4):

    "All who are interested in the fauna of Tasmania will be glad to know that the marsupial wolf captured at the Dee arrived safely at Beaumaris last evening.  It is a female, and has been captured without the slightest injury.  Specially well-adapted quarters have been prepared, and she has settled quietly in them.  It is the intention of Mrs. Roberts to forward the animal to the London Zoo".

    This article not only tells us the sex of the thylacine, but also its place of capture and date of arrival at the zoo.

    The arrival of a second thylacine at Beaumaris sometime between mid-October 1908 and mid-January 1909 is noted in an article in the Mercury of the 14th January 1909 (p. 3): 

    "Many persons who have been awaiting an opportunity to see the Tasmanian tigers may be pleased to know that they will be on view on Saturday afternoon next.  It is rarely that these animals are captured alive, and all who take an interest in our marsupials should not miss this chance, which may never occur again".

    The arrival of the next four thylacines is reported in an article in the Examiner newspaper of the 7th July 1909 (p. 7):

    "Calling at Woolnorth en route, the Gladys took aboard four live native tigers, as they are familiarly termed, although bearing no affinity to the feline family.  The animals (female and half-grown cubs) were enclosed in a strong cage, and attracted a number of visitors on Sunday last.  The beasts were transhipped to the s.s. Taoroa, having been purchased by a Hobart resident for, it is said, the sum of £20 - another convincing proof of the wealth of our undeveloped natural resources".

    These three newspaper articles highlight the importance of non-zoological sources in identifying missing or additional thylacines in the zoo record.

    Internationally, Paddle (2012) estimates the total number of thylacines displayed in the fourteen zoos known to have exhibited the animals at 224.  This figure excludes thylacines held in private menageries, circuses, and dealers in wild animals.  Once again, these totals do not reflect the movement of thylacines between zoos.  Both the London and Melbourne zoos acted as transit points for thylacines on route to other destinations.  Consequently, within the international total there are thylacines that are recorded twice and in some cases on three or more occasions. For example, a male and female thylacine exhibited at the Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes in Paris between 1886 and 1891 came originally from Melbourne Zoo, and were held in transit for several weeks at London Zoo before being transported to their final home in Paris.  Consequently, this pair of thylacines account for 6 of the 224 animals displayed as they are listed in the records of all three zoos.  Based on the Thylacine Museum's own research, a more realistic count of the total number of wild caught thylacines displayed in all zoos is likely to have been closer to 165 animals (see table below).  Of the 243 thylacines on display, 78 (32%) were transfers, purchases or exchanges from other zoos (243 - 78 = 165).  Once again, it must be stressed that this is a provisional estimate and subject to review as research continues.