Man claims to have spotted Tasmanian Tiger which is meant to be extinct
A caravan park owner is claiming to have spotted a Tasmanian Tiger in the South Gippsland bush.
While the last known tiger died in captivity in a Hobart Zoo 80 years ago, Tony Holgate is convicted they’re still alive and have made their way to Victoria.
“It didn't look like a dog, didn't look like a cat, didn't look like a fox, it looked like a Tasmanian Tiger,” he told 7 News.
Tony says the mysterious marsupial was standing on one of his caravan park sites.
“It was with a pack of kangaroos, I got to about 20 metres of it.”
Unfortunately the creature was quick to run off, but Tony thinks it could still be hanging around the bush land.
The last Tasmanian Tiger died in captivity at the Hobart Zoo in 1936 and the animal was declared extinct in the 1980's.
Melbourne Zoo’s reproductive biologist Dr Marissa Parrot told 7 News it was possible that Tony has simply spotted a sick fox.
“If (foxes) have a disease called mange, they can get a striped appearance and a thin tail, it can be mistaken for a Tasmanian Tiger,” she said.
Sadly there is no photographic evidence of the elusive animal because Tony didn't have a camera and has never owned a mobile phone.
He now wants the government to investigate his sighting.
“We'd need a little bit more evidence before we'd be spending money on that,” MP Jane Garrett said.
As it’s up to Tony to keep his eye on the Tiger, he is considering getting a mobile phone so he is ready for the next sighting.
News break – January 4
