CRYPTOZOOLOGY
Introduction
The word "Cryptozoology" comes from the Greek word, "Crypto" (Kriptos - Greek spelling) meaning - "Hidden" and "Zoology"- the study of animals.
It is the study and search of elusive animals not acknowledged by the scientific community as a real science. Examples include Bigfoot, Loch Ness Monster, Chupacabras etc. A number of these animals studied have their origins in legend or folklore. Most "cryptids" (animals) are cases of imagination, mis-identifications or hoaxes but there are a number of animal sightings that are harder to dismiss. There is a huge following around the world but there is still very little success and much failure in proving the existence of many of these elusive creatures.
There are three basic categories within cryptozoolgy:
1) The search for living creatures that are thought to be extinct that can be identified through the fossil records.
2) New species of animals that have not been identified or discovered by science.
3) Creatures/animals from myth, legends and the supernatural that have been observed in modern times.
As with the paranormal, there are very good, credible researchers as well as those who are not. The reality, as within the paranornal field, is that there are no degrees in cryptozoology - so there for there is no such thing as a qualified cryptozoologist. A person must have a degree to be any kind of a "ologist". But there are a number of very good researchers in the field who use scientific methodology when conducting their research. As with the paranormal, success only comes with evidence based research, not assumption led research.
But I do believe it would be very reckless to think we know everything that resides in the world. There are new species discovered every year by the scientific community so it is not unreasonable to believe that there could be more exotic creatures out there to be discovered. There are still locations around the world that have yet to be explored on nearly every continent and with in the world's oceans.
It is the study and search of elusive animals not acknowledged by the scientific community as a real science. Examples include Bigfoot, Loch Ness Monster, Chupacabras etc. A number of these animals studied have their origins in legend or folklore. Most "cryptids" (animals) are cases of imagination, mis-identifications or hoaxes but there are a number of animal sightings that are harder to dismiss. There is a huge following around the world but there is still very little success and much failure in proving the existence of many of these elusive creatures.
There are three basic categories within cryptozoolgy:
1) The search for living creatures that are thought to be extinct that can be identified through the fossil records.
2) New species of animals that have not been identified or discovered by science.
3) Creatures/animals from myth, legends and the supernatural that have been observed in modern times.
As with the paranormal, there are very good, credible researchers as well as those who are not. The reality, as within the paranornal field, is that there are no degrees in cryptozoology - so there for there is no such thing as a qualified cryptozoologist. A person must have a degree to be any kind of a "ologist". But there are a number of very good researchers in the field who use scientific methodology when conducting their research. As with the paranormal, success only comes with evidence based research, not assumption led research.
But I do believe it would be very reckless to think we know everything that resides in the world. There are new species discovered every year by the scientific community so it is not unreasonable to believe that there could be more exotic creatures out there to be discovered. There are still locations around the world that have yet to be explored on nearly every continent and with in the world's oceans.
Accepted Animals Today - But Once Considered a Myth
There are animals today that were considered myths, extinct or out right hoaxes by the scientific community in our recent past. You might find it surprising: some of the animals that I am going to introduce to you are animals known in popular culture but at the time were undiscovered by western Science.
Duck-billed Platypus:
In the early days of settlement in Australia there were bizarre stories and myths abound about a perplexing creature that was described having the upper and lower mandibles of a duck, a beaver's tail, fur of a mammal and it laid eggs like a bird or reptile. The first accounts came in 1797 around the waters of the Hawkesbury River, near Sydney Town. Soon, tales of this fantastic creature were heard by the very skeptical minds in the British Museum of Natural History. Most perplexing was that this strange animal did not belong to any particular animal group. It was said to hold characteristics of a reptile, bird, fish and a mammal. Finally, an animal was caught and killed and sent to the local Governor, who then sent it to England in 1797. It arrived in 1798, was studied and was pronounced a fake. It was not until 1802 when it was finally confirmed as a true animal. The specimen is still held at the British Museum today. This creature was named by two scientist, Shaw and a German anatomist, under the name of Blumenbach. Each of these scientist had a separate name for the new animal so eventually the two names were combined and the new creature was named "Omithortiynchus Anatinus" but was to be commonly known as the "Duck Billed Platypus"
Today, the duck-billed platypus is still considered one of the world's strangest animals. It is one of the oldest mammal species still to exist in modern times and is one of two mammals that lay eggs (the other being the spiny-anteater a.k.a. echidnas) and the only mammal to have have poison spine on it rear foot.
Today, the duck-billed platypus is still considered one of the world's strangest animals. It is one of the oldest mammal species still to exist in modern times and is one of two mammals that lay eggs (the other being the spiny-anteater a.k.a. echidnas) and the only mammal to have have poison spine on it rear foot.
Giant Panda:
This well known creature - as a soft toy in nearly every kid's bedroom and often a representation of peace - is the icon for the world's largest population. However, it was once considered nothing more that a myth.
Although this animal had been described and reported for thousands of years by the Chinese, it was not until 1869 when it was described for the first time in the western world. A French missionary, Pere Armand David, was shown the dead body of a animal shot by the Missionaries Christian hunters. The missionary described a large white bear - except for the legs, ears and eyes, which were black. he was surprised that its paws were hairy underneath. He concluded that this must be a new species. The French missionary sent a letter to Alphonse Miline-Edwards in 1869, to tell of this new creature and that it may even be new to science. Alphonse Miline-Edwards received a dead specimen from the French missionary in 1870. The animal was studied and was thought to be of the bear family but anatomically it shared more characteristics with the red panda. Finally he placed the animal into its own genus and its own branch of the Tree of Life. The scientific name for this new discovery was Ailuropoda Melanoleuca or commonly known as the Giant Panda.
This large creature was well known by the Chinese, and was mentioned as a large bear-like creature in the "Book of History" and the "Book of Songs" written about 3000 years ago during the Chu Dynasty. The animal is referred to as "Pi". The big, peaceful giant became the symbol of bravery and is recorded in other writings over the next 3000 years. It took on different names during this time such as "Zhu Yi" and "Mo".
It was not until the year 1914 when the elusive animal was actually seen alive - 45 years after its discovery. The first westerner to see this creature was a German Zoologist, Hugo Weigold.
The panda is on the endangered species list and the Chinese Government have a number of breeding programs so the Panda will not become extinct, as its natural habitat is under threat by the growing population. Sadly, it is said that there are less than 1000 Pandas left in the wild.
Although this animal had been described and reported for thousands of years by the Chinese, it was not until 1869 when it was described for the first time in the western world. A French missionary, Pere Armand David, was shown the dead body of a animal shot by the Missionaries Christian hunters. The missionary described a large white bear - except for the legs, ears and eyes, which were black. he was surprised that its paws were hairy underneath. He concluded that this must be a new species. The French missionary sent a letter to Alphonse Miline-Edwards in 1869, to tell of this new creature and that it may even be new to science. Alphonse Miline-Edwards received a dead specimen from the French missionary in 1870. The animal was studied and was thought to be of the bear family but anatomically it shared more characteristics with the red panda. Finally he placed the animal into its own genus and its own branch of the Tree of Life. The scientific name for this new discovery was Ailuropoda Melanoleuca or commonly known as the Giant Panda.
This large creature was well known by the Chinese, and was mentioned as a large bear-like creature in the "Book of History" and the "Book of Songs" written about 3000 years ago during the Chu Dynasty. The animal is referred to as "Pi". The big, peaceful giant became the symbol of bravery and is recorded in other writings over the next 3000 years. It took on different names during this time such as "Zhu Yi" and "Mo".
It was not until the year 1914 when the elusive animal was actually seen alive - 45 years after its discovery. The first westerner to see this creature was a German Zoologist, Hugo Weigold.
The panda is on the endangered species list and the Chinese Government have a number of breeding programs so the Panda will not become extinct, as its natural habitat is under threat by the growing population. Sadly, it is said that there are less than 1000 Pandas left in the wild.
Mountain Ape:
In October 1902, Captain Robert Beringe, while on an expedition to establish the boundaries of German East Africa, shot two large apes. One of the apes was recovered and sent back to the Zoological Museum in Berlin, where Professor Paul Matschie classified the animal as a new form of gorilla and named it "Gorilla Beringi", after the man who discovered it.
In 1925, Carl Akeley, a hunter for the American Museum of Natural History, studied the gorilla and convinced Albert I of Belgium to establish the Albert National Park to protect the animals of the Virunga Mountains.
The Mountain Gorilla, as it is commonly known. is one of the two subspecies of the Eastern Gorilla. There are two populations - one is found in the Virunga Volcano mountains of Central Africa, within three national parks; Mgahinga, in southwest Uganda; Volcanoes, in northwest Rwanda, in southwest Rwanda and Virunga in the eastern Demorcratic Republic of Congo. The other population is found in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It is believed by some that the Bwindi population may be a separate subspecies but this is still under investigation. As from the 2010, there were only 790 Mountain Gorillas worldwide.
In 1925, Carl Akeley, a hunter for the American Museum of Natural History, studied the gorilla and convinced Albert I of Belgium to establish the Albert National Park to protect the animals of the Virunga Mountains.
The Mountain Gorilla, as it is commonly known. is one of the two subspecies of the Eastern Gorilla. There are two populations - one is found in the Virunga Volcano mountains of Central Africa, within three national parks; Mgahinga, in southwest Uganda; Volcanoes, in northwest Rwanda, in southwest Rwanda and Virunga in the eastern Demorcratic Republic of Congo. The other population is found in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It is believed by some that the Bwindi population may be a separate subspecies but this is still under investigation. As from the 2010, there were only 790 Mountain Gorillas worldwide.
Komoda Dragon:
The Komoda Dragon was first documented by Europeans in 1910, when rumors of a land based crocodile was reported to Lieutenant Van Steyn Hensbroek, of the Dutch Colonial Administration. In 1912, Peter Ouwens, the Director of the Zoological Museum at Bogor Java, published a paper on the topic after receiving a photo and a skin from the Lieutenant, as well as two other specimens from another collector. In 1926, there was a expedition to Komoda Island by W. Douglas Burden. He returned with 12 preserved specimens and two live ones. It is said that this expedition was the inspiration for the 1933 movie "King Kong". Three of the specimens were stuffed and still are on display at the American Museum of Natural History.
The Dutch realized that there were only a limited number of Komoda Dragons in the wild and outlawed all hunting and limited the number of individuals taken for scientific studies. Collecting expeditions halted with the start of World War II, not resuming until the 1950s. At present, there are approximately 4000 to 5000 living Komoda Dragons in the Wild. There is a concern that there are only 350 breeding females.
The Dutch realized that there were only a limited number of Komoda Dragons in the wild and outlawed all hunting and limited the number of individuals taken for scientific studies. Collecting expeditions halted with the start of World War II, not resuming until the 1950s. At present, there are approximately 4000 to 5000 living Komoda Dragons in the Wild. There is a concern that there are only 350 breeding females.
Okapi:
The Opapi was known to the ancient Egyptians - shortly after the discovery of the Opapi by Europeans, a carved image was discovered in Egypt.
For many years, Europeans in Africa heard tales about an animal that came to be called the African Unicorn. While exploring the Congo in 1887, Henry Stanley mentioned a kind of donkey that the natives called the "Atti", which was to be later identified as the Okapi. In the late 19th century, numerous explorers may have sited the stripped backside as the animal fled through the jungle. It was thought that the Opapi was some sort of rainforest zebra.
The British Governor of Uganda, Sir Harry Johnston discovered that a number of pygmies of the Congo were being abducted by German showmen for a exhibition in Europe. He rescued them and promised to return them to their villages. The grateful pygmies told Johnston about the animal in Stanley's book. Johnston was puzzled by the Okapi tracks the natives showed him, as he thought he was on the trail of some type of forest dwelling horse, but the tracks were of some type of cloven-hoofed animal. Johnston never did see an Okapi himself but did manage to obtain a piece of stripped skin, and later, a skull. From the skull, the Pkapi was correctly identified as a relative of the giraffe. In 1901, the species was formally recognized as "Okapia Johnstoni"
Today there are approximately between 10,000 and 20,000 still in the wild, inhabiting the Northwest of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central Africa and 40 institutions world wide displaying them.
For many years, Europeans in Africa heard tales about an animal that came to be called the African Unicorn. While exploring the Congo in 1887, Henry Stanley mentioned a kind of donkey that the natives called the "Atti", which was to be later identified as the Okapi. In the late 19th century, numerous explorers may have sited the stripped backside as the animal fled through the jungle. It was thought that the Opapi was some sort of rainforest zebra.
The British Governor of Uganda, Sir Harry Johnston discovered that a number of pygmies of the Congo were being abducted by German showmen for a exhibition in Europe. He rescued them and promised to return them to their villages. The grateful pygmies told Johnston about the animal in Stanley's book. Johnston was puzzled by the Okapi tracks the natives showed him, as he thought he was on the trail of some type of forest dwelling horse, but the tracks were of some type of cloven-hoofed animal. Johnston never did see an Okapi himself but did manage to obtain a piece of stripped skin, and later, a skull. From the skull, the Pkapi was correctly identified as a relative of the giraffe. In 1901, the species was formally recognized as "Okapia Johnstoni"
Today there are approximately between 10,000 and 20,000 still in the wild, inhabiting the Northwest of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central Africa and 40 institutions world wide displaying them.
Goblin Shark:
The Goblin shark was originally described in 1897 as a "Mitsukurina Owsitoni" from a specimen obtained in Sagami Sea, near Yokohama Japan. Another specimen was caught and described in 1909 as "Sapanorhynchus Jordoni" by Louis Hussak. For a time, the species was moved to the genus "Scapanorhynchus" and was referred to as a "Scapanorhynchus Owstoni" This scientific name is now invalid.
The Goblin shark is now Mitsukurina and is named after Kakichi Mitsukuri, a Japanese zoologist from the University of Tokyo who was responsible for bringing the then identified species to David Jordan for proper taxonomic identification and description. The species was named by by Jordan in honor of wildlife collector Allen Owston, who acquired the first specimen from a Japanese fisherman. The shark's common name is a translation of the Japanese name "Tenguzame", which was the original team that the Japanese fisherman used to describe the shark, prior to its official identification. It refers to the "goblin-like tengu" of Japanese folklore, which describes the shark's goblin-like snout.
The Goblin shark is a very strange looking beast with its unorthodox shaped head. It has a long trowel-shaped snout. Other distinctive characteristics of the shark is the colour of its body, which is mostly pink and its long protrusile jaws. The largest of the Goblin sharks can grow to over 3 metres in length.
The Goblin Shark is a deep water shark, usually found near the sea bottom at depths of around 250 metres. The deepest specimen was caught at 1300 metres. Most Goblin sharks have been caught in Japanese waters, where the species was first discovered. But there have been Goblin sharks have been found in waters off South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. They have also been found in the Atlantic Ocean, in waters off Madeira, Portugal, and on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Goblin shark is now Mitsukurina and is named after Kakichi Mitsukuri, a Japanese zoologist from the University of Tokyo who was responsible for bringing the then identified species to David Jordan for proper taxonomic identification and description. The species was named by by Jordan in honor of wildlife collector Allen Owston, who acquired the first specimen from a Japanese fisherman. The shark's common name is a translation of the Japanese name "Tenguzame", which was the original team that the Japanese fisherman used to describe the shark, prior to its official identification. It refers to the "goblin-like tengu" of Japanese folklore, which describes the shark's goblin-like snout.
The Goblin shark is a very strange looking beast with its unorthodox shaped head. It has a long trowel-shaped snout. Other distinctive characteristics of the shark is the colour of its body, which is mostly pink and its long protrusile jaws. The largest of the Goblin sharks can grow to over 3 metres in length.
The Goblin Shark is a deep water shark, usually found near the sea bottom at depths of around 250 metres. The deepest specimen was caught at 1300 metres. Most Goblin sharks have been caught in Japanese waters, where the species was first discovered. But there have been Goblin sharks have been found in waters off South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. They have also been found in the Atlantic Ocean, in waters off Madeira, Portugal, and on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, in the Gulf of Mexico.
Megamouth Shark:
The first Megamouth was caught by accident on November 15th 1978, about 40kms of the coast of Kaneoke Hawaii, when it became entangled in the sea anchor of a United States Navy ship. Examination of the 4.5 metre, 750kg specimen by Leighton Taylor showed that it was an unknown species of shark, making it one of the more sensational discoveries of the 20th Century.
The Megamouth Shark (Megachasma pelagios) is a very rare deep sea shark. The species is so rare that, since its discovery in 1976, only a few sharks have been seen and only 50 species have been caught as of 2010, including three recorded on film. The Megamouth shark is a filter feeder and swims with its enormous mouth open, filtering water for plankton and jellyfish. It can open its mouth to 1.3 metres. It is very distinctive with its large head and rubbery lips. It is unlike any other type of shark and is classified in its own family.
Megamouth Sharks are very large growing up to 5.5 metres weighting up to 1,215 kg. It has a brownish-black colour on top and a whitish underneath, an asymmetrical tail and a long upper lobe. It is relatively poor swimmer and has a soft flabby body and lacks keels.
The Megamouth Shark (Megachasma pelagios) is a very rare deep sea shark. The species is so rare that, since its discovery in 1976, only a few sharks have been seen and only 50 species have been caught as of 2010, including three recorded on film. The Megamouth shark is a filter feeder and swims with its enormous mouth open, filtering water for plankton and jellyfish. It can open its mouth to 1.3 metres. It is very distinctive with its large head and rubbery lips. It is unlike any other type of shark and is classified in its own family.
Megamouth Sharks are very large growing up to 5.5 metres weighting up to 1,215 kg. It has a brownish-black colour on top and a whitish underneath, an asymmetrical tail and a long upper lobe. It is relatively poor swimmer and has a soft flabby body and lacks keels.
Coelacanth
The Coelacanth, which is related to the lungfish and tetapods, were believed to have been extinct since the end of the Cretaceous period. The first specimen was found of the east coast of South Africa, off the Chalumna River (now Tyalomnqa) in 1938. Museum curator, Marjorie Courtenay Latimer, discovered the fish among the catch of a local fisherman, Captain Hendrick Goosen, on December 23, 1938. A local chemistry professor, J.L.B Smith, confirmed the fish's importance with a famous cable: "MOST IMPORTANT PRESERVED SKELETON AND GILLS, FISH DESCRIBED".
The discovery of a species still living, when all thought that it had been extinct for 65 million years, made the Coelacanth the most well-known example to re-appear from the prehistoric fossil record. The Coelacanth first appeared in the fossil record in the Middle Devonian (360 million years ago). Prehistoric species have lived in many bodies of water in later Paleozozoic and Mesozoic times. Because this species limited evolution over the course of 360 million years, the Coelacanth retained some of its features - believed to show that it was a direct descendant of the tetrapods.."All land animals"... that finally led to the evolution of us.
The Coelacanth has some unique traits among vertebrates. The kidneys are fused into one organ, which is located on the floor of the abdomen, instead of just under the backbone. A small heart that looks like a straight tube. A brain that occupies only 1.5% of the brain case, the rest of the cavity is filled with fat. The pectoral, pelvic and fins set on muscular lobs. It has an extra tiny tail at the end of its primary tail.
It is believed that the Coelacanth survivability may be under threat due to commercial deep-sea trawling. This is unfortunate because the fish has no commercial value as the meat extrudes oils, has a foul flavour and is the unfortunate victim of the deep sea trawling.
References:
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Crptozoology.com
The discovery of a species still living, when all thought that it had been extinct for 65 million years, made the Coelacanth the most well-known example to re-appear from the prehistoric fossil record. The Coelacanth first appeared in the fossil record in the Middle Devonian (360 million years ago). Prehistoric species have lived in many bodies of water in later Paleozozoic and Mesozoic times. Because this species limited evolution over the course of 360 million years, the Coelacanth retained some of its features - believed to show that it was a direct descendant of the tetrapods.."All land animals"... that finally led to the evolution of us.
The Coelacanth has some unique traits among vertebrates. The kidneys are fused into one organ, which is located on the floor of the abdomen, instead of just under the backbone. A small heart that looks like a straight tube. A brain that occupies only 1.5% of the brain case, the rest of the cavity is filled with fat. The pectoral, pelvic and fins set on muscular lobs. It has an extra tiny tail at the end of its primary tail.
It is believed that the Coelacanth survivability may be under threat due to commercial deep-sea trawling. This is unfortunate because the fish has no commercial value as the meat extrudes oils, has a foul flavour and is the unfortunate victim of the deep sea trawling.
References:
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Crptozoology.com
New Animals Discovered in 2010
Every year the Scientific community discovers many new species of creatures on land and in the ocean and waterways around the world. This a small selection of animals that were discovered for the first time in 2010. The animals I have chosen are quite strange and exotic but are very real and are proven by science.
New Armored Wood-eating Catfish:
A new species of armored, wood eating catfish was found in the Amazon rain forest in 2006. It feeds on fallen trees in the Santa Ana River in Peru.
Other so-called sucker-mouth armored cat fish use their unique teeth to scrape organic material from the submerged wood. The new, but unnamed, species of catfish is amongst a dozen catfish species known that actually ingest wood. National Geographic News reported this new species in September 2010.
Other so-called sucker-mouth armored cat fish use their unique teeth to scrape organic material from the submerged wood. The new, but unnamed, species of catfish is amongst a dozen catfish species known that actually ingest wood. National Geographic News reported this new species in September 2010.
Simpsons Toad:
Scientists were in West Columbia in September 2010 looking for new amphibian species when they stumbled on to three new species of amphibian, including a very strange new beaked toad. It has a long, pointy, snout-like nose - similar to Mr Burns, of the Simpsons television show.
Of course, this is not the official name - this new toad is still unnamed.
Tyrant King Leech:
Tyrannobdella Rex - or Tyrant Leech King, was discovered in the remote Peruvian Amazon, and was reported by National Geographic in April 2010.
The Leech is up to 7cms long with large teeth, like the Dinosaur that it is named after "Tyrannosaurus Rex".
New Snub-Nosed Monkey:
A new monkey species, discovered in Myanmar, is the snub-nosed monkey - that is allegedly so snub-nosed, that it is said that rain makes it sneeze. Conservationists were concerned, as the only scientifically observed specimen (pictured) had been killed by local hunters at the same time scientist found it and was eaten soon after.
Tube - Nosed Fruit Bat:
The Tube-nosed fruit bat is one of 200 species encountered during two scientific expeditions to Papua New Guinea in 2009. This new species of bat was observed on a previous expedition but had not been formally documented as a new species or named.
This particular bat is slightly different from other similar bats as it dispenses the seeds from the fruit it eats - perhaps making this species of bat very important to its tropical rainforest ecosystem.
This particular bat is slightly different from other similar bats as it dispenses the seeds from the fruit it eats - perhaps making this species of bat very important to its tropical rainforest ecosystem.
Self-Cloning Lizard:
This particular lizard is a popular food on Vietnamese menus - but it turned out that this particular lizard was unknown to the scientific community.
The most bizarre aspect to the new-found species of lizard (Leiolepis ngovantrii) is that this is an all female species and they reproduce via cloning, without the need for a male companion.
References: News..National Geographic 2010 (Top ten weirdest New Animals of 2010)
The most bizarre aspect to the new-found species of lizard (Leiolepis ngovantrii) is that this is an all female species and they reproduce via cloning, without the need for a male companion.
References: News..National Geographic 2010 (Top ten weirdest New Animals of 2010)
Australian Cryptozoology
I have decided to focus on Australian cryptozoology, as there are numerous websites that look at the traditional creatures in cryptozoology such as Bigfoot, Yeti, Mothman etc. There are a number of strange creatures in Australia that have been sighted by Aboriginals, from early settlers to the present day. Whether these creatures are real, misidentified or a hoax is not known, but there are enough reports to suggest further research is needed on this very interesting subject which has captured the imagination of so many.
Yowie:
Yowie (also Yowie-Whowie and Yahoo) is the term for an unidentified hominid that is said to lurk in the Australian wilderness. It is a similar crypid to the Yeti and Bigfoot. The origins of the yowie can be found in Aboriginal folklore. Yowies are common in legend especially in the eastern states of Australia.
Early European settlers that came to Australia in the 19th century noticed that the aboriginals were terrified by something called a "Yahoo" or "Devil-Devil".
The 1842 issue of the Australian and New Zealand monthly magazine wrote: "The creatures were imaginary, though some Australian naturalists believed the Yahoo were real animals. Because of the creature's rarity, shyness and solitary habits, man has not succeeded in obtaining a specimen". It concluded that the Yahoo was most likely to be one of the monkey tribe.
"Mrs Charles Meredith, who was a resident of New South Wales from 1839 - 1844, noting the aboriginals fear of the Yahoo, reported that the creature lived in the tops of the steepest and rockiest mountains which are inaccessible to all human beings".
An article from the Sydney Sun, dated 10/11/1912:
"The Surveyor Charles Harper's description of a Yowie sighting. A huge man-like animal stood erect not 20 yards from the fire, growling, grimacing and thumping his breasts with huge hand-like paws....I should say its height, when standing erect, would be 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 inches. Its body, legs and arms were covered with long brownish hair which shook with every quivering movement of its body. The hair on its shoulder and back parts appeared to be jet black and long, but what stuck with me the most was the apparently human shape, yet still so different. I saw the phalanges (toe bones) were extremely long indicating great grasping power by the feet. The body frame was enormous indicating immense strength. The head and face were very small but human. The eyes were large, dark, piercing and deeply set. A most horrible mouth was ornamented with two large canine teeth. When the jaws were closed they protruded over the lower lip. All the observations happened over a few minutes while the creature stood erect, as if the camp fire paralyzed it".
In an article entitled "Australian Apes" appeared in 1882, a Mr. H.J. McCooey claimed to have seen an "indigenous ape" on the south coast of New South Wales.
" A few days ago I saw one of these strange creature...on the coast between Bateman's Bay and Ulladulla....I should think that if it were standing perfectly upright it would be nearly 5 feet high. It was tailless and covered with very long black hair, which was of a dirty red or snuff-colour about the throat and breast. Its eyes, which were small and restless, were partly hidden by matted hair that covered its head... I threw a stone at the animal, whereupon it immediately rushed off......"
Yowie reports have continued to this day with a trail of evidence that is familiar to most unidentified hominids that have been reported around the world. There have been eyewitness reports, footprints, claims of death and mutilation of family pets and life stock. At this stage, there is a lack of conclusive proof. In recent years, Rex Gilroy, a paranormal researcher and a self-proclaimed cryptozoologist, has popularized the Yowie, collecting at least 3000 reports of yowie sightings. He claims that they could be a extinct ape or Homo species.
Early European settlers that came to Australia in the 19th century noticed that the aboriginals were terrified by something called a "Yahoo" or "Devil-Devil".
The 1842 issue of the Australian and New Zealand monthly magazine wrote: "The creatures were imaginary, though some Australian naturalists believed the Yahoo were real animals. Because of the creature's rarity, shyness and solitary habits, man has not succeeded in obtaining a specimen". It concluded that the Yahoo was most likely to be one of the monkey tribe.
"Mrs Charles Meredith, who was a resident of New South Wales from 1839 - 1844, noting the aboriginals fear of the Yahoo, reported that the creature lived in the tops of the steepest and rockiest mountains which are inaccessible to all human beings".
An article from the Sydney Sun, dated 10/11/1912:
"The Surveyor Charles Harper's description of a Yowie sighting. A huge man-like animal stood erect not 20 yards from the fire, growling, grimacing and thumping his breasts with huge hand-like paws....I should say its height, when standing erect, would be 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 inches. Its body, legs and arms were covered with long brownish hair which shook with every quivering movement of its body. The hair on its shoulder and back parts appeared to be jet black and long, but what stuck with me the most was the apparently human shape, yet still so different. I saw the phalanges (toe bones) were extremely long indicating great grasping power by the feet. The body frame was enormous indicating immense strength. The head and face were very small but human. The eyes were large, dark, piercing and deeply set. A most horrible mouth was ornamented with two large canine teeth. When the jaws were closed they protruded over the lower lip. All the observations happened over a few minutes while the creature stood erect, as if the camp fire paralyzed it".
In an article entitled "Australian Apes" appeared in 1882, a Mr. H.J. McCooey claimed to have seen an "indigenous ape" on the south coast of New South Wales.
" A few days ago I saw one of these strange creature...on the coast between Bateman's Bay and Ulladulla....I should think that if it were standing perfectly upright it would be nearly 5 feet high. It was tailless and covered with very long black hair, which was of a dirty red or snuff-colour about the throat and breast. Its eyes, which were small and restless, were partly hidden by matted hair that covered its head... I threw a stone at the animal, whereupon it immediately rushed off......"
Yowie reports have continued to this day with a trail of evidence that is familiar to most unidentified hominids that have been reported around the world. There have been eyewitness reports, footprints, claims of death and mutilation of family pets and life stock. At this stage, there is a lack of conclusive proof. In recent years, Rex Gilroy, a paranormal researcher and a self-proclaimed cryptozoologist, has popularized the Yowie, collecting at least 3000 reports of yowie sightings. He claims that they could be a extinct ape or Homo species.
Queensland Tiger:
The Queensland tiger is a crytid that is reported to live in Queensland, Australia. It is also called the Yarri by the Aboriginals. The Queensland tiger is described as being the size of a large dog, feline in looks with strips and a long tail, prominent front teeth and a savage temperament. Many believe it is a survivor or a descendent of the large predatory marsupial "Thylacoleo" (Marsupial Lion) considered by science to be extinct. The Thylacoleo, according to fossil records, lived between 1.6 million years ago and 40,000 years ago. It was considered one of the largest marsupial carnivores the world has ever seen. It would have hunted animals including the giant Deiprotodon in the woodlands, forests, shrub-lands and river valleys.
The earliest documented witness reports of the Queensland tiger date from 1871, with aboriginal folklore of the yarri preceding these. Most reports have come from the northeast of Queensland. The number of reports have diminished since the 1950s but continue to be reported.
A naturalist, named George Sharpe, witnessed the "Queensland tiger" along the Tully River in the early part of the 20th century. He said it was "larger and darker than a Tasmanian tiger, with stripes showing very distinctly". Not long afterwards, a farmer shot a similar animal after it attacked his goats. The farmer followed tracks into the bush until he came across a lifeless animal. By the time he found the animal, the wild pigs had eaten most of the head and body. There was enough of the animal left to show that it was about 5 feet long. Unfortunately the farmer had nothing to preserve the animal with and it rotted away.
In 1926, A.S le Souef described the creature being a "Striped marsupial cat" in the "The Wild Animals of Australasia". This information later included the "Furred Mammals of Australia", by Ellis Troughton, long time curator of mammals in the Australian Museum. Amongst cryptids, it was the closest to official recognition.
The theory of the continued presence of the Thylacoleo (Marsupial lion) on the Australian mainland and the Thylancine (Tasmanian Tiger) in Tasmania has been covered on a number of television shows including an episode of "Animal Planet", "Animal X" and on the National Geographic Channel. There have been a number of Marsupial Lion sightings reported in local newspapers although in less numbers than during the 1970s. In the 1970s, naturalist Janeice Plunkett collected over 100 reports of sightings or shooting of Queensland tigers, including reports that suggested that the animal was a marsupial. Some believe that the Tiger did exist but is now extinct, thus the reason for the diminishing reports since the 1970s.
Another theory is that the Queensland Tiger could be pumas or mountain lions brought to Australia by the American soldiers during World War II, which had been released when the soldiers headed back home. It has also been suggested that the Queensland tiger could be a large feral cat variant.
The earliest documented witness reports of the Queensland tiger date from 1871, with aboriginal folklore of the yarri preceding these. Most reports have come from the northeast of Queensland. The number of reports have diminished since the 1950s but continue to be reported.
A naturalist, named George Sharpe, witnessed the "Queensland tiger" along the Tully River in the early part of the 20th century. He said it was "larger and darker than a Tasmanian tiger, with stripes showing very distinctly". Not long afterwards, a farmer shot a similar animal after it attacked his goats. The farmer followed tracks into the bush until he came across a lifeless animal. By the time he found the animal, the wild pigs had eaten most of the head and body. There was enough of the animal left to show that it was about 5 feet long. Unfortunately the farmer had nothing to preserve the animal with and it rotted away.
In 1926, A.S le Souef described the creature being a "Striped marsupial cat" in the "The Wild Animals of Australasia". This information later included the "Furred Mammals of Australia", by Ellis Troughton, long time curator of mammals in the Australian Museum. Amongst cryptids, it was the closest to official recognition.
The theory of the continued presence of the Thylacoleo (Marsupial lion) on the Australian mainland and the Thylancine (Tasmanian Tiger) in Tasmania has been covered on a number of television shows including an episode of "Animal Planet", "Animal X" and on the National Geographic Channel. There have been a number of Marsupial Lion sightings reported in local newspapers although in less numbers than during the 1970s. In the 1970s, naturalist Janeice Plunkett collected over 100 reports of sightings or shooting of Queensland tigers, including reports that suggested that the animal was a marsupial. Some believe that the Tiger did exist but is now extinct, thus the reason for the diminishing reports since the 1970s.
Another theory is that the Queensland Tiger could be pumas or mountain lions brought to Australia by the American soldiers during World War II, which had been released when the soldiers headed back home. It has also been suggested that the Queensland tiger could be a large feral cat variant.
Bunyip:
The bunyip is a large mythical creature from Aboriginal mythology that is said to lurk in swamps, billabongs, creeks and waterholes. The origins of the word bunyip has been traced back to the Wergaia language of the Aboriginal people of south-east Australia. It is interesting that the bunyip appears to be apart of aboriginal beliefs and stories throughout Australia, although its name varies according to tribal nomenclature. Robert Holden, in his 2001 book, identified at least nine regional variations for the bunyip, across Australia.
Descriptions of the bunyip vary widely. George French Angus collected a discription of a bunyip (water spirit) from the Moorundi people of the River Murrey in 1847, stating it is "much dreaded by them.... Its inhabits the Murray; but....they had some difficulty describing it. Its most usual form...is said to be that of an enormous starfish".
Common features reported in a number of 19th century newspaper accounts include a dog-like face, dark fur, feathers, scales (like that of a crocodile), horse-like tail, flippers and walrus-like tusks, a horn or a duck-like bill.
The first use of the word bunyip was in 1845. Fossils were found near Geelong and revealed by "The Geelong Advertiser" in July 1845. Under the headline "Wonderful Discovery of New Animal". It continued, "On the bone being shown to an Aboringinal, he at once recognised it as belonging to bunyip, which he declared he had seen. On being requested to make a drawing of it, he did so without hesitation. "The account noted a story of an Aboriginal woman being killed by a bunyip, and the "most direct evidence of all," which was that of a man named Mumbowran, "Who showed several deep wounds on his breast made by the claws of the bunyip. The account provided a discription of the creature.
"The bunyip, them represented as uniting the characteristics of a bird and a alligator. It had a head resembling an emu, with a long bill, at the extremity of which is a transverse projection on each side, with serrated edges like the bone of the stingray. Its body and legs partake of the nature of a aligator. The hind legs are remarkably thick and strong, and the fore legs are much longer, but still of great strength. The extremites are furnished with long claws, but the blacks say its usual method of killing prey is by hugging it to death. When in the water it swims like a frog, and when on shore it walks on its hind legs with the head erect, in which position it measures twelve or thirteen feet in height" .
Another sighting which was reported in the "Sydney Morning Herald" (date unknown) was that of George Hoblier. According to George, one of the herdsman saw a bunyip while he was looking for his cows on flooded area in New South Wales. He said that the creature was as large as calf, it was covered in thick fur that was a darkish brown colour. It had two large tusks and a enlongated neck. Its ears were as large and pointed as that of its head. It also had a very large tail.
A number of people attempted to explain and understand the bunyips origins.
Charles Fenner wrote in 1933 that it was likely the "actual origins of the bunyip myth lies in the fact that time to time seals have made their way up the Murray and Darling rivers". He provided examples of seals found as far inland as Overland Corner, Loxton and Conargo and reminded readers, "The smooth fur, prominent 'apricot' eyes and a bellowing cry are characteristics of the seal.
Another theory is the bunyip may be a cultural memory of the extinct Australian marsupials such as the Diprotodon or Palorchestes. The connection was made by Dr George Bennett of Australian Museum in 1871. In the early 1990s, palaeontologist Pat Vicker-Rich and geologist Niel Archbold also cautiously suggested that Aboriginal legends, perhaps had stemed from an acquaintance with prehistorical animals themselves - when confronted with the remains of some of the now extinct marsupials, Aboriginals would often identify them as a bunyip.
Descriptions of the bunyip vary widely. George French Angus collected a discription of a bunyip (water spirit) from the Moorundi people of the River Murrey in 1847, stating it is "much dreaded by them.... Its inhabits the Murray; but....they had some difficulty describing it. Its most usual form...is said to be that of an enormous starfish".
Common features reported in a number of 19th century newspaper accounts include a dog-like face, dark fur, feathers, scales (like that of a crocodile), horse-like tail, flippers and walrus-like tusks, a horn or a duck-like bill.
The first use of the word bunyip was in 1845. Fossils were found near Geelong and revealed by "The Geelong Advertiser" in July 1845. Under the headline "Wonderful Discovery of New Animal". It continued, "On the bone being shown to an Aboringinal, he at once recognised it as belonging to bunyip, which he declared he had seen. On being requested to make a drawing of it, he did so without hesitation. "The account noted a story of an Aboriginal woman being killed by a bunyip, and the "most direct evidence of all," which was that of a man named Mumbowran, "Who showed several deep wounds on his breast made by the claws of the bunyip. The account provided a discription of the creature.
"The bunyip, them represented as uniting the characteristics of a bird and a alligator. It had a head resembling an emu, with a long bill, at the extremity of which is a transverse projection on each side, with serrated edges like the bone of the stingray. Its body and legs partake of the nature of a aligator. The hind legs are remarkably thick and strong, and the fore legs are much longer, but still of great strength. The extremites are furnished with long claws, but the blacks say its usual method of killing prey is by hugging it to death. When in the water it swims like a frog, and when on shore it walks on its hind legs with the head erect, in which position it measures twelve or thirteen feet in height" .
Another sighting which was reported in the "Sydney Morning Herald" (date unknown) was that of George Hoblier. According to George, one of the herdsman saw a bunyip while he was looking for his cows on flooded area in New South Wales. He said that the creature was as large as calf, it was covered in thick fur that was a darkish brown colour. It had two large tusks and a enlongated neck. Its ears were as large and pointed as that of its head. It also had a very large tail.
A number of people attempted to explain and understand the bunyips origins.
Charles Fenner wrote in 1933 that it was likely the "actual origins of the bunyip myth lies in the fact that time to time seals have made their way up the Murray and Darling rivers". He provided examples of seals found as far inland as Overland Corner, Loxton and Conargo and reminded readers, "The smooth fur, prominent 'apricot' eyes and a bellowing cry are characteristics of the seal.
Another theory is the bunyip may be a cultural memory of the extinct Australian marsupials such as the Diprotodon or Palorchestes. The connection was made by Dr George Bennett of Australian Museum in 1871. In the early 1990s, palaeontologist Pat Vicker-Rich and geologist Niel Archbold also cautiously suggested that Aboriginal legends, perhaps had stemed from an acquaintance with prehistorical animals themselves - when confronted with the remains of some of the now extinct marsupials, Aboriginals would often identify them as a bunyip.
Megalania Prisca:
Between 1.6 million year to 40,000 years ago there were huge animals called mega-fauna, that roamed the Australian continent before becoming extinct. Reasons for the extinction included climate change, disease and the arrival of man. These creatures resembled many of the common animals of today but were huge and a lot more aggressive. As an example there were 3 metre kangaroos that fed on flesh, animals related to the wombat but were the size of a hippopotamus, a flesh eating marsupial that resembled a large cat (lion size) that could kill large animals and drag them up a tree to eat.
There was also a monstrous reptile during this period named Magalania Prisca (giant monitor lizard), that could grow to over 10 metres long and weighed more than 500 kg. It was also a victim of the mass extinction around 40,000 years ago. But in recent times there have been a number of sightings of a huge goanna-like creature that resembles the Magalania Prica.
One such sighting happened during the middle of the day - a surveyor returned to his truck, getting ready to go home. He saw what appeared to be a fallen tree near his truck. He slammed the door of the truck when the fallen tree got up and ran away. It was a giant lizard, approximately 15ft in length.
Another sighting took place in 1979 by a Herpetologist Frank Gordon, after conducting some field work in the Wattagan Mountains in New South Wales, returned to his vehicle. After starting his engine, he saw, what look like a large log, get up and scamper off. He described a giant lizard, of some 30ft or more in length.
A farmer observed a gigantic lizard walking along one of his fields. It walked along the wire fence which enabled the farmer to use the fence posts as a guide. He estimated the creature to be between 20-25 ft in length.
There was also a sighting of a Megalania in New Guinea. In the 1960s, a french priest was travelling up river with a native guide to reach his destination. During his trip, he observed a large lizard lying on a fallen tree enjoying the sun. The frightened guide would not stop to observe the large lizard. The priest returned to the location the next day and measured the tree, it was 40ft long, yet the lizard took up most the tree.
Whether or not the Magalania is still alive is unlikely but the Australian continent has vast areas of wilderness so one can always hope and wait for the next eye witness report, photo or video footage.
There was also a monstrous reptile during this period named Magalania Prisca (giant monitor lizard), that could grow to over 10 metres long and weighed more than 500 kg. It was also a victim of the mass extinction around 40,000 years ago. But in recent times there have been a number of sightings of a huge goanna-like creature that resembles the Magalania Prica.
One such sighting happened during the middle of the day - a surveyor returned to his truck, getting ready to go home. He saw what appeared to be a fallen tree near his truck. He slammed the door of the truck when the fallen tree got up and ran away. It was a giant lizard, approximately 15ft in length.
Another sighting took place in 1979 by a Herpetologist Frank Gordon, after conducting some field work in the Wattagan Mountains in New South Wales, returned to his vehicle. After starting his engine, he saw, what look like a large log, get up and scamper off. He described a giant lizard, of some 30ft or more in length.
A farmer observed a gigantic lizard walking along one of his fields. It walked along the wire fence which enabled the farmer to use the fence posts as a guide. He estimated the creature to be between 20-25 ft in length.
There was also a sighting of a Megalania in New Guinea. In the 1960s, a french priest was travelling up river with a native guide to reach his destination. During his trip, he observed a large lizard lying on a fallen tree enjoying the sun. The frightened guide would not stop to observe the large lizard. The priest returned to the location the next day and measured the tree, it was 40ft long, yet the lizard took up most the tree.
Whether or not the Magalania is still alive is unlikely but the Australian continent has vast areas of wilderness so one can always hope and wait for the next eye witness report, photo or video footage.
Tasmanian Tiger (Thylacine):
The Tasmanian tiger, also known as the Thylacine was an inhabitant of Australian, Tasmania and New Guinea. The thylacine became near-extinct in Mainland Australia about 2000 years ago and even earlier in New Guinea. The absolute extinction is believed to be attributed to competition from the indigenous humans and the introduction of dingos. Rock paintings from Kakadu Nation Park show the thylacines were hunted by early humans. There is evidence that there were a small number of thylacines on the mainland when the first European settlers arrived but were totally extinct during the 19th century. The thylacine survived in Tasmania until the last animal died in the Hobart zoo in 1936.
When farming started in the early 19th century in Tasmania, the thylacine was considered a pest that was reported to be killing livestock. A systematic slaughter of the thylacine commenced, with bounties being rewarded on their scalps. By the end of the 19th century, the thylacine was very rare and the last bounty was paid in 1906. The last reported killing of a thylacine was in 1930. The thylacine finally became protected in 1933 but, by this stage, it was too late for this marsupial. The last thylacine was captured in 1933 only two months after becoming a protected species and sent to the Hobart Zoo where it lived for three years, dying on September 7th, 1936. After slaughtering this unique marsupial Tasmanians realized what they had done to this unique marsupial - putting the thylacine on the official Coat of Arms.
The thylacine resembled a large dog but was a flesh eating marsupial, belonging to the the same family as the Tasmanian devil, which survives today. The male thylacine could reach up to 1.5 metres long. It had distinctive stripes that began on the lower back and continued down the tail. The female looked very similar but was smaller. The tail was long but inflexible and did not wag. The thylacine was one of only two marsupials to have a pouch in both female and male. The female had a reverse pouch, facing the rear of the animal and males had a pouch that acted as a protective sheath, covering the male productive organs while it ran through the bush.
The thylacines normally hunted in pairs. They fed on various animals including kangaroos. They had very powerful elongated jaws with a huge gape that could crush large bones, including the skulls of its victims. When the thylacine was hunted, they showed no fear when approached and would often kill the first dog that would confront them. The thylacine normally made no noise but were heard on occasions making a "yip-yip" sound when hunting.
The Australian Rare Fauna Research Association reports to have 3,800 sightings on file from mainland Australia since 1936 extinction date, while the Animal Research Centre of Australia recorded 138 reports up to 1998 and the Department of Consrvation and Land Managment recorded 65 in Western Australia over the same period. Independent thylacine researchers, Buck and Jonne Emburg of Tasmania, have 360 Tasmanian reports and 269 post extinction reports. Mainland sightings are frequently reported in South Victoria.
In 1957, zoologist Eric R. Guiler, chairman of the Animal and Birds Protection Board, went to Broadmarch to investigate the killing of sheep by an unknown predator. A number of tracks were identified as thylacine prints, but no thylacine was found. Several other expeditions followed between 1957 and 1966 but these only produced more footprints and reported sightings by local residents.
A number of sightings have generated a lot of publicity. In 1973, Gary and Liz Doyle shot 10 seconds of 8mm film showing an identified animal running across a South Australian road. However, it was impossible to identify the animal as a thylacine because of the poor quality of the film.
In 1982, a researcher of the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife service, Hans Naading observed what he believed to be a thylacine for three minutes, during the night at a site near Authur River, in northern Tasmania. The sighting led to a year-long government funded search. The search did not prove the existence of the thylacine to the government's satisfaction, although there was no official statement made. Although, at the time, there was extensive mining and timber operations in the area. The question was asked: if thylacines were found, would the government be forced to shut down those commercial enterprises? The question of protection verses business interests would have been a very tricky situation for the government to deal with. As with most governments, it's easier to make no comment, hoping it all goes away.
In 1995, another wildlife officer reported observing a thylacine in the Pyengana region of northwest Tasmania in the early hours of the morning. Later, searchers found no trace of the animal.
In 1997, reports by locals and missionaries near Mout Carzatensz in Western New Guinea had sighted thylacines. It was said that the locals had known about the thylacines for a number of years but had never reported them officially.
In 2005, Klaus Emmerichs, a German tourist, claimed to have taken digital photos of a thylacine near the lake at St Clair National Park. The photos were not published until 2006, fourteen months after the sighting. The photos showed only the back of an animal and was deemed inconclusive as evidence of a thylacine.
In 1983, Ted Turner offered a $100,000 reward for proof of a thylacine. A letter sent in response to an inquiry by a thylacine researcher, Murray McAllister, in 2000 indicated that the reward was withdrawn. In 2005, Australian New Magazine, "The Bulletin" as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations, offered $1.25 million for the safe capture of a live thylacine but no one produced any significant evidence. A Tasmanian tourist operator, Steward Malcolm offered $1.75 million but the catch with this huge reward was that, in Tasmania, trapping is illegal - under the terms of the thylacine's protection.So any reward made is invalid, since a trapping license would not be issued.
When farming started in the early 19th century in Tasmania, the thylacine was considered a pest that was reported to be killing livestock. A systematic slaughter of the thylacine commenced, with bounties being rewarded on their scalps. By the end of the 19th century, the thylacine was very rare and the last bounty was paid in 1906. The last reported killing of a thylacine was in 1930. The thylacine finally became protected in 1933 but, by this stage, it was too late for this marsupial. The last thylacine was captured in 1933 only two months after becoming a protected species and sent to the Hobart Zoo where it lived for three years, dying on September 7th, 1936. After slaughtering this unique marsupial Tasmanians realized what they had done to this unique marsupial - putting the thylacine on the official Coat of Arms.
The thylacine resembled a large dog but was a flesh eating marsupial, belonging to the the same family as the Tasmanian devil, which survives today. The male thylacine could reach up to 1.5 metres long. It had distinctive stripes that began on the lower back and continued down the tail. The female looked very similar but was smaller. The tail was long but inflexible and did not wag. The thylacine was one of only two marsupials to have a pouch in both female and male. The female had a reverse pouch, facing the rear of the animal and males had a pouch that acted as a protective sheath, covering the male productive organs while it ran through the bush.
The thylacines normally hunted in pairs. They fed on various animals including kangaroos. They had very powerful elongated jaws with a huge gape that could crush large bones, including the skulls of its victims. When the thylacine was hunted, they showed no fear when approached and would often kill the first dog that would confront them. The thylacine normally made no noise but were heard on occasions making a "yip-yip" sound when hunting.
The Australian Rare Fauna Research Association reports to have 3,800 sightings on file from mainland Australia since 1936 extinction date, while the Animal Research Centre of Australia recorded 138 reports up to 1998 and the Department of Consrvation and Land Managment recorded 65 in Western Australia over the same period. Independent thylacine researchers, Buck and Jonne Emburg of Tasmania, have 360 Tasmanian reports and 269 post extinction reports. Mainland sightings are frequently reported in South Victoria.
In 1957, zoologist Eric R. Guiler, chairman of the Animal and Birds Protection Board, went to Broadmarch to investigate the killing of sheep by an unknown predator. A number of tracks were identified as thylacine prints, but no thylacine was found. Several other expeditions followed between 1957 and 1966 but these only produced more footprints and reported sightings by local residents.
A number of sightings have generated a lot of publicity. In 1973, Gary and Liz Doyle shot 10 seconds of 8mm film showing an identified animal running across a South Australian road. However, it was impossible to identify the animal as a thylacine because of the poor quality of the film.
In 1982, a researcher of the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife service, Hans Naading observed what he believed to be a thylacine for three minutes, during the night at a site near Authur River, in northern Tasmania. The sighting led to a year-long government funded search. The search did not prove the existence of the thylacine to the government's satisfaction, although there was no official statement made. Although, at the time, there was extensive mining and timber operations in the area. The question was asked: if thylacines were found, would the government be forced to shut down those commercial enterprises? The question of protection verses business interests would have been a very tricky situation for the government to deal with. As with most governments, it's easier to make no comment, hoping it all goes away.
In 1995, another wildlife officer reported observing a thylacine in the Pyengana region of northwest Tasmania in the early hours of the morning. Later, searchers found no trace of the animal.
In 1997, reports by locals and missionaries near Mout Carzatensz in Western New Guinea had sighted thylacines. It was said that the locals had known about the thylacines for a number of years but had never reported them officially.
In 2005, Klaus Emmerichs, a German tourist, claimed to have taken digital photos of a thylacine near the lake at St Clair National Park. The photos were not published until 2006, fourteen months after the sighting. The photos showed only the back of an animal and was deemed inconclusive as evidence of a thylacine.
In 1983, Ted Turner offered a $100,000 reward for proof of a thylacine. A letter sent in response to an inquiry by a thylacine researcher, Murray McAllister, in 2000 indicated that the reward was withdrawn. In 2005, Australian New Magazine, "The Bulletin" as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations, offered $1.25 million for the safe capture of a live thylacine but no one produced any significant evidence. A Tasmanian tourist operator, Steward Malcolm offered $1.75 million but the catch with this huge reward was that, in Tasmania, trapping is illegal - under the terms of the thylacine's protection.So any reward made is invalid, since a trapping license would not be issued.
Big Cats in Australia:
There have been over a thousand reports of big cat sightings in every state in Australia received by researchers, several of which have been photographed and videoed. Most researchers believe that these large cats are pumas or mountain lions from North America.
Reports received from Australian military personal at bases across the nation during World War II stated that pumas were kept at several bases and that US airmen used a compartment in Vultee Vengeance dive bombers to smuggle the big cats into Australia. Brown and black pumas were regularly sighted at Cordering in south-west Western Australia, Darwin, Cape York, the New England Tablelands, the Blue Mountains near Sydney and in Gippsland.
Another theory is that pumas were brought to Eastern Australia during the golden rush by the American gold miners in the 1850s. These animals may have subsequently escaped or were released, causing a number of sightings over the years.
In May 2001, a successful freedom of information request revealed that the New South Wales Government had been maintaining a secret file on the creature. It also revealed wildlife hierarchy were concerned about the potential threat to humans that they commissioned big cat expert Dr. Johannes Bauer to evaluate what had been previously been deemed unthinkable. He concluded, "Difficult to accept, the most likely explanation of evidence...is the presence of a large feline predator.
When Kenthurst teenager, Luke Walker, suffered deep cuts in March 2003, saying they were the result of a struggle with a panther-like cat, the New South Wales Government reopened the case. A report compiled by New South Wales Agriculture included a review of sightings and extensive interviews with the local residents of Grose Vale, where the big cats had been frequently sighted. It found that the big cat activity was very credible. Taken into consideration was the previous report by Dr. Keith Hart, district veterinarian of Mose Vale Rural Protction Board who, after testing scat samples, concluded that a large cat was living in the Grose Vale area. "Although nothing in the report found in this review conclusively proves the presences of free ranging cats in New South Wales, but this cannot be discounted and seems more likely than not, on available evidence".
It seems unlikely that any of the large black cats are real black panthers, which are melanistic colour phase of leopards, it is more likely that thay are North American mountain lions and large black feral cats and the evidence is growing that there are breeding population of big cats in the Australian bush.
To finish off, I would like to give my own account of a sighting of a large black cat in May 2000. My wife and I were on our way home, after visiting my mother-in-law, who lived on a property 20km out from Mt. Barker, South Australia. We were roughly about 10kms from Mt Barker, on the Stathalbyn Road, when a large black cat ran in front of the car. It was roughly 1.5 metres long, it ran across the road, turning its head towards my car as it ran. It was no more than 10-15 metres in front of the car and I had my high beams on so I could see the animal very clearly. I braked heavily so as not to hit it. This woke my wife up, but she did not see the animal as it had passed. Where the big cat ran across the road was between two large paddocks, fronted by large trees along the side of the road. I believe what I oberved was a large black cat, much too large to be a feral cat. When a friend contacted the Adelaide Zoo, their response was: "We do not comment on such sightings".
References:
ABC local stories. www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2008/08
cryptozoology.com
Wikipedia, the free encylopedia
Reports received from Australian military personal at bases across the nation during World War II stated that pumas were kept at several bases and that US airmen used a compartment in Vultee Vengeance dive bombers to smuggle the big cats into Australia. Brown and black pumas were regularly sighted at Cordering in south-west Western Australia, Darwin, Cape York, the New England Tablelands, the Blue Mountains near Sydney and in Gippsland.
Another theory is that pumas were brought to Eastern Australia during the golden rush by the American gold miners in the 1850s. These animals may have subsequently escaped or were released, causing a number of sightings over the years.
In May 2001, a successful freedom of information request revealed that the New South Wales Government had been maintaining a secret file on the creature. It also revealed wildlife hierarchy were concerned about the potential threat to humans that they commissioned big cat expert Dr. Johannes Bauer to evaluate what had been previously been deemed unthinkable. He concluded, "Difficult to accept, the most likely explanation of evidence...is the presence of a large feline predator.
When Kenthurst teenager, Luke Walker, suffered deep cuts in March 2003, saying they were the result of a struggle with a panther-like cat, the New South Wales Government reopened the case. A report compiled by New South Wales Agriculture included a review of sightings and extensive interviews with the local residents of Grose Vale, where the big cats had been frequently sighted. It found that the big cat activity was very credible. Taken into consideration was the previous report by Dr. Keith Hart, district veterinarian of Mose Vale Rural Protction Board who, after testing scat samples, concluded that a large cat was living in the Grose Vale area. "Although nothing in the report found in this review conclusively proves the presences of free ranging cats in New South Wales, but this cannot be discounted and seems more likely than not, on available evidence".
It seems unlikely that any of the large black cats are real black panthers, which are melanistic colour phase of leopards, it is more likely that thay are North American mountain lions and large black feral cats and the evidence is growing that there are breeding population of big cats in the Australian bush.
To finish off, I would like to give my own account of a sighting of a large black cat in May 2000. My wife and I were on our way home, after visiting my mother-in-law, who lived on a property 20km out from Mt. Barker, South Australia. We were roughly about 10kms from Mt Barker, on the Stathalbyn Road, when a large black cat ran in front of the car. It was roughly 1.5 metres long, it ran across the road, turning its head towards my car as it ran. It was no more than 10-15 metres in front of the car and I had my high beams on so I could see the animal very clearly. I braked heavily so as not to hit it. This woke my wife up, but she did not see the animal as it had passed. Where the big cat ran across the road was between two large paddocks, fronted by large trees along the side of the road. I believe what I oberved was a large black cat, much too large to be a feral cat. When a friend contacted the Adelaide Zoo, their response was: "We do not comment on such sightings".
References:
ABC local stories. www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2008/08
cryptozoology.com
Wikipedia, the free encylopedia