The Tasmanian Tiger still exists, says Tiger King star: Jeff Lowe claims the Australian animal last seen 84 years ago is NOT extinct and ‘there is credible footage out there’
Jeff Lowe from the Netflix documentary series Tiger King believes the Tasmanian Tiger still exists.
Official records state that the last of the thylacine species died in a zoo in 1936.
But the big cat enthusiast, 67, told Hit 100.9 Hobart’s Jimmy & Nath there is ‘credible footage’ of the Australian animal that proves it isn’t extinct.
‘There is credible footage’: Tiger King’s Jeff Lowe has claimed the Tasmanian Tiger still exists but it ‘can’t be tricked into a cage’
‘I think it’s possible [they still exist] and I think it would be cool to find one,’ Jeff said.
‘It’s not that long ago when the last one died in a zoo so [there should be] one or even a hybrid that maybe was bred with a dog, coyote, wolf or a dingo.’
Jeff added that it would extremely hard to find a surviving Tasmanian Tiger.
‘Quit trying so hard to find one because by the time you see him, he has seen you 20 times and if he’s been able to elude humans this long then he’s pretty smart,’ he said.
Can’t be found: Jeff went on to say that even if the Tasmanian Tiger (pictured) exists, it will be extremely hard to find one because they are ‘smart’ animals
‘I think if they ever find one, it’s going to be because somebody has opened up their garage and there he is eating their trash… I doubt they’re going to trick one of these into a cage.’
According to the National Museum of Australia, sightings of the Tasmanian Tiger had become extremely rare by the mid-1930s.
The last thylacine died at the Beaumaris Zoo in 1936 from suspected neglect, just two months after the government had declared it a protected species.
Jeff said: ‘Quit trying so hard to find one because by the time you see him, he has seen you 20 times and if he’s been able to elude humans this long then he is pretty smart’
Jeff rose to fame after appearing in Netflix documentary series Tiger King.
Tiger King tells the story of zoo owner and big cat breeder Joe Exotic, who spirals out of control while trying to arrange the murder of his rival Carole Baskin.
Jeff is a former business partner of Joe’s and owner of Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park in Wynnewood, Oklahoma, with his wife, Lauren.
Business: Jeff is the former business partner of Joe Exotic and he currently owns the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park in Wynnewood, Oklahoma with his wife Lauren (pictured)