Tasmanian tigers were not what collector Bill Warren was looking for as he scoured a suburban garage sale a few weeks ago and settled on an unusual stripey animal skin for $5.
But, Warren has since done his homework, and on Wednesday told the San Diego Tribune the strange pelt may belong to a thylacine, which is or was a carnivorous marsupial native to the Australian continent.
However, there are just a few catches, such as verification, and a law that prohibits the supposedly extinct animal’s pelt from being moved across state lines, a law that effectively treats the Tasmanian Tiger as an existing endangered species.
Thylacinus cynocephalus, known colloquially as the Tassie tiger, remained on the endangered list until 1986, despite the death in captivity of the last known animal in 1936. Continued sightings reported by locals in Tasmania lead some to believe the creature may still exist, according to the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service.
However, Warren clearly has other ideas. “It’s like putting a Brontosaurus on the endangered species list,” Warren told the Tribune. “It’s driving me nuts.”
If verified, the Tribune reported that an auction house wants the find for $70,000, adding that Warren hopes to use the proceeds to fund a treasure-hunting enterprise.
But, Warren has since done his homework, and on Wednesday told the San Diego Tribune the strange pelt may belong to a thylacine, which is or was a carnivorous marsupial native to the Australian continent.
However, there are just a few catches, such as verification, and a law that prohibits the supposedly extinct animal’s pelt from being moved across state lines, a law that effectively treats the Tasmanian Tiger as an existing endangered species.
Thylacinus cynocephalus, known colloquially as the Tassie tiger, remained on the endangered list until 1986, despite the death in captivity of the last known animal in 1936. Continued sightings reported by locals in Tasmania lead some to believe the creature may still exist, according to the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service.
However, Warren clearly has other ideas. “It’s like putting a Brontosaurus on the endangered species list,” Warren told the Tribune. “It’s driving me nuts.”
If verified, the Tribune reported that an auction house wants the find for $70,000, adding that Warren hopes to use the proceeds to fund a treasure-hunting enterprise.
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