Cryptozoology

Secrets of Room N008

You remember the scene from the end of the first Indiana Jones movie? Recall the endless rows of boxes in storage in that secret warehouse? Of course, the reality is that most large museums around the world actually do have such storage areas. The “outfront” exhibits at most museums are impressive. But, for example, I was reminded quickly in Alberta, once again, that less than 10% of the holdings of a museum are what the public sees. The Columbian mammoth is on exhibit in Alberta with other Pleistocene mammals. When I visited the Royal Alberta Museum, the director of Communications, [...]

Montauk Monster: Raccoon?

Something strange indeed did wash ashore at Montauk Island, New York. Is the “Montauk Monster” nothing more than a raccoon without an upper jaw, as proclaimed by local officials? See below.

Newly Discovered Kipunji Extinct Soon?

Found only three years ago in its tiny forest home in Tanzania, a monkey species may soon be extinct. The kipunji (Rungwecebus kipunji and also known as the Highland Mangabey) was discovered in 2005 in the Southern Highlands and Udzungwa Mountains in Tanzania. In 2006, genetic analyses revealed the species represented an entire new genus of primate — the first since 1923. “The kipunji is hanging on by the thinnest of threads,” said Tim Davenport, Tanzania country director for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). “We must do all we can to safeguard this extremely rare and little understood species while [...]

Cryptid Washes Ashore At Montauk

Something strange has washed ashore at Montauk Island, New York. “This is an actual monster, some sort of rodent-like creature with a dinosaur beak. A tipster says that there is ‘a government animal testing facility very close by in Long Island,’” says Gawker in a posting for Tuesday, July 29, 2008. Comments like “That’s a turtle, without its shell,” make no sense because of the teeth. Some fossil turtles had teeth, but no modern turtles possess real teeth. What is this animal? Why can’t people put some sort of size reference object in these mystery photos? How big is this [...]

New Yeti Hairs and Hillary

The Yeti hair sample shows split ends. The first update to the testing of the Yeti hair sample is in, and the results are “inconclusive,” not too surprisingly. Initial results showed it had human and ape-like characteristics. Ian Redmond, a biologist and expert in ape conservation, said the hairs found in the Indian jungle resembled samples collected by the conqueror of Everest, Sir Edmund Hillary, in the 1950s. “Under the microscope, they look slightly human, slightly like an orang utang and slightly like the hairs brought back by Edmund Hillary,” Redmond told AFP. “These hairs remain an enigma. They could [...]