Now in its fourth month, Asia’s latest "Bigfoot" flap keeps on rolling. What can be learned from how the media is handling the story via the evolving names being used? Are there the hints of ridicule and racism, in the routine being revealed? The Malaysian "Bigfoot," as a labeled cryptid, is slowly merging with various attributed "local" designations that are slipping into the stories. The name that is being picked most often reveals a developing story that moves the examination of the sightings from a more tangible cryptozoological landscape into a media-friendly "legendary status," with a hint of xenophobia. At [...]
Cryptomundo Wins Praise
Cryptomundo was informed this week that we have been chosen as a Yahoo Pick! We are so proud, here’s the entire posting from Yahoo: Cryptomundo Florida Skunk Apes, West Virginia Mothmen, Texas Chupacabras … rejected expansion teams for the NFL? Think again. These creatures have never been, well, verified by the stamp of science. But that doesn’t stop Cryptomundo, a site that scours the Web for news of “the most elusive and rare animals (cryptids) on this planet earth.” And it won’t stop us, either! Here, read of the mule-eared, thick-necked critter roaming the wilds of western Arkansas! Thrill to [...]
Get Ready For Yeti
Okay, all of us can see evidence that the Malaysia "Bigfoot" story has exploded into the mainstream when even USA Today decides to cover the story. But then, we also realize it is getting a little long in the tooth when the same newspaper can’t be any more creative than to use the old terrible Ivan Marx photo of a probable man-in-a-suit to illustrate their supposedly overview news item. Outrageous. Those pix from the 1970s have nothing to do with Malaysia, and little to do with the real Bigfoot! I certainly want the Malaysian scientists to succeed and find some [...]
Sasquatch Dumpling Gang
Sasquatch Dumpling Gang (2006) appears to be on its way to becoming a runaway hit. The well-respected motion picture review site, Film Threat, has declared the film a five-star (out of five) success. The plot is intellectually and enjoyably complex, but basically is about a group of teenage friends who discover what appear to be Sasquatch footprints in the woods near the lead character’s home. Soon to visit them is Bigfoot expert Dr. Artimus Snodgrass (whom Film Threat calls “a pretentious, over-the-top scientist played by Carl Weathers”). Needless to say, the movie allegedly takes some twists down the path of [...]
Emela-Ntouka: Africa’s Killer of Elephants
Cryptomundo Exclusive The Emela-ntouka has been an unknown animal of some confusion in Africa. A few chroniclers have felt it was merely another named cryptid representing the sightings of the Mokele-mbembe. But as revealed by an image seen here for the first time, it appears to be a beast unlike the saurapod-like Mokele-mbembe. Click on image for larger size Copyright: Michel Ballot – Mokélé – Mbembé CAMEROUN 2004 On page 219 of one of my recent field guides, written with Patrick Huyghe, we noted, among several different kinds of alleged “dinosaurs” in Africa, “one animal is called by locals the [...]
Movies, Music, and Teaching About Hidden Animals
I guess I could discuss the ill whale swimming up the Thames today, and how the crowds are flocking to see it. It does remind me of what might have happened along the New England coast in 1817-1819, during the era of all those Sea Serpent sightings. Or I could talk about the fact that at the Slamdance Film Festival, The Sasquatch Dumpling Gang is being screened, or that some infamous Skunk Ape “hunters” are performing at their own “Everglades Swamp Hop” music festival. But, hey, those stories are merely evidence of the usual cryptozoology entertainment news. (Well, maybe a [...]
Old Bad Yeti Tales
There is old Yeti news beginning to circulate as a new wire service story on January 15-16, 2006. It is all about Sir Edmund Hillary and his 1960 search for the Abominable Snowmen. +++ Harry Trumbore’s drawing of the Himalayan “Yeti,” from the forthcoming The Field Guide to Bigfoot, to be published by Anomalist Books. Copyright 2006, Loren Coleman and Patrick Huyghe. +++ See, for example, the new Australian article, “Hillary’s Abortive Hunt for Yeti Left Sherpa Myth Undisturbed”. They begin with Hillary’s conclusion that the Yeti is a cultural myth, and then they build the case on the retelling [...]
2006: Mothman’s 40th
“Batman” (starring Adam West) premiered on January 12, 1966 – 40 years ago! Which reminds me that this will be the 40th anniversary of all things Mothman. The large bird-like cryptids were said to be “first” seen in the Ohio River valley area around Point Pleasant, West Virginia, in Mason County. After the initial sightings, they were given the name “Mothman” by a copyeditor at an Ohio newspaper who was a big fan of the new Batman television series. The first Mothman sightings that received widespread media attention occurred on November 15, 1966. As it turns out, TNT broadcast The [...]
How Old Are India’s Giant Footprints?
Early Indian news reports seem to be linking the finding of "giant" footprints in India with the "Malaysian Bigfoot" media madness, and the the temporary closing of China’s Shennongjia Nature Reserve (or "Bigfoot Park" in some stories), the alleged habitat of the Chinese Wildmen or Yeren. But are the Indian reports clearly of an archaeological nature, and not about hominology? Inquiring cryptozoologists desire more exacting details! January 10th’s Silicon India report and yesterday’s Times of India news item are broadcasting the message that the giant footprints found in India are in some way related to a giant "Bigfoot" candidate. But [...]
Media Watch: Blue-Eyed Snakes and Old Blobs
Readers beware: Old monsters pawned off in stories said to be "new" news. Uncritical folk beliefs presented as "news." What’s going on this week online? As cryptozoology becomes more popular, news alerts, newspapers, and websites are circulating old information, out-of-date data, and less-than-substantial "news" to capture cryptid-interested readers. And, no, I am not even talking about Pravda, the new Russian wild online contributor of stories that sound like they are straighten out of the World Weekly News! Some recent media examples go far to demonstrate what seems to be a too common occurrence these days. Okay, first there is the [...]
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