Tiger King star John Finlay has claimed the alligators that perished in Joe Exotic’s zoo fire belonged to Michael Jackson.

The Netflix hit – branded “bonkers” by viewers – tells the story of Exotic, a tiger trader embroiled in a rivalry with animal rights activist Carole Baskin.

Exotic is currently serving a 22-year prison sentence for crimes including trying to hire someone to murder Baskin.

Footage shown in the documentary sees Exotic discussing a blaze at his zoo. He said the animals involved were “boiling alive in a towering inferno”.

Finlay, who was in a relationship with Exotic when Tiger King was filmed, spoke about Jackson’s animals in a new interview for Lights Out with David Wade.

He said: “My favourite animals were the alligators and crocodiles. A previous manager had gotten Michael Jackson’s alligators from the Neverland ranch.

“We’d got some other ones from friends and stuff. They were the ones I really took care of most of the time.”