By Tim Binnall
A Tasmanian Tiger researcher plans to camp out in the wilderness for two years in the hopes of encountering the creature and proving that it still exists. Known scientifically as the thylacine, the iconic striped canine is believed to have gone extinct in the 1930s, however numerous sightings in the years and decades since have led many to suspect that the creature's demise was greatly exaggerated. Among them is Neil Waters, who runs the Thylacine Awareness Group of Australia and now he reportedly intends to put that belief to the test by way of an epic expedition.
Musing to a local newspaper that it is believed that there are 100 breeding pairs of thylacines still living in the wild, Waters revealed that he has purchased a piece of property in the area where these creatures are suspected of inhabiting. Having allegedly seen the presumed-extinct animal twice while at that location, the researcher says that he plans to spend the next two years living in the bush in order to finally capture the evidence needed to confirm that they still roam the planet.
"The hundreds of people who have reported sightings cannot all be wrong," he declared, explaining that he'll make use of an extensive series of game cameras and other high tech equipment to document the creature in the wild. Lest one suspect that Waters is eyeing fame and fortune in his quest to find the Tasmanian Tiger, the researcher explained that his motivations are more altruistic: "my dream is to prove the thylacine is alive and well and have a management plan put in place to ensure their continued survival."