Explorer Andy Sanderson will have his latest quarry - the Tasmanian Wolf - firmly in his sights on a journey Down Under.

The last known Thylacine, more commonly known as the Tasmanian Wolf, died in Hobart Zoo on the island in 1936.

Over 1,000 sightings of the elusive fox-faced marsupial have since been documented across the island and Australian mainland, but there is no firm evidence it exists.

Andy, of Jesmond, and colleague Adam Davies, from Manchester, are travelling to Tasmania later this year with the aim of finding concrete proof of the animal's survival.

"The Tasmanian Wolf was the size of a large dog and the Australian government said that possibly they have written it off too soon," said Andy, 30, a customer services worker for Orange in North Tyneside.

"Tasmania is a beautiful place and the south west corner, where a lot of the sightings have been, is practically uninhabited."

A body, clear video evidence or even hair samples for DNA could prove the creature is still alive.

Andy is still awaiting the results of footprint plaster casts and hair samples taken during a trip to Sumatra last year in search of the mythical apeman the Orang Pendek.

And his Tasmanian trip seems relatively easy when compared to his ultimate goal - a trek in the Mongolian Gobi Desert pursuing the mysterious 7ft-long Mongolian Death Worm, said to spit nerve poison at its victims.

"That trip is likely to cost us £2,500 each and we are looking for a sponsor or some kind of financial backing to get us out there," said Andy.

• Story originally published by:
The Journal, Newcastle / England - Jan 17.02

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