A tale of the Tasmanian tiger
What does it mean to lose a species? How do memory, science, and imagination relate to what disappears? In this lecture, Charlotte Van den Broeck takes us on a fascinating journey following the traces of the extinct Tasmanian tiger.
With an engaging and accessible storytelling style, she weaves together biology, ecology, history, and philosophy. What do we really know about the Tasmanian tiger? And are the traces some claimed to have found long after 1936 fact or fiction? Van den Broeck explores how science and imagination merge in our longing to rediscover lost species—or at the very least, to keep remembering them.
Based on her book 'Een vlam Tasmaanse tijgers' (A troop Tasmanian tigers) she takes us on a journey from European zoos and natural history collections to the depths of the bushland of Iutruwita, also known as Tasmania. There, wildlife photographers and researchers still search for a glimpse of the animal that is officially extinct. Through the ecological history of the Tasmanian tiger, she reflects on loss, hope in times of climate crisis, and the power of stories—stories that can be both destructive and healing.
With her distinctive style—sharp, sensitive, and captivating—Charlotte Van den Broeck delivers a lecture that will intrigue both scientists and curious listeners alike. Whether you have a background in biology or are simply fascinated by nature and history, this lecture invites you to see disappearance and remembrance in a new light.
Admission and reception are free, but registration is required! Please note that seats are limited.
The lecture will be held in English. Practical information.
Photo: Carmen De Vos
