Pop Culture

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 As cryptozoology becomes more popular, news alerts, newspapers, and websites are circulating old information, out-of-date data, and less-than-substantial "news" to capture cryptid-interested readers.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 [...]

Help Cryptomundo get a Bloggie!!

Are you one of the growing number of regular and new readers who enjoy reading Cryptomundo for the latest Bigfoot news and Cryptozoology happenings? Then help get us get nominated for "Best New Weblog" of all the weblogs that began in 2005. < THANK YOU ALL FOR VOTING…CHECK BACK FOR RESULTS AFTER JANUARY 20TH http://2006.bloggies.com/

Our deepest sympathies to Art Bell

Sorry to have to mention someone else who has passed away, but this is shocking news. Coast to Coast AM has posted this sad message: January 6, 2006 In Memoriam: Ramona Bell Art Bell’s beloved wife of fifteen years, Ramona, died unexpectedly last night after an asthma attack. At present, the exact cause of Mrs. Bell’s death has not been determined. It apparently took place during her sleep. Until her death, Art and Ramona Bell had not been apart a day since they were married. Mrs. Bell had suffered from asthma for years, and took her normal steps to control [...]

Wired, Boing Boing, Fimoculus, and Cox: America’s Still Going Crazy for Cryptozoology

This week, Rex Sorgatz’s Fimoculous.com Best Lists site, which annually compiles a “best of best” list, has posted their final “Top 20 Lists of 2005″ list. I was pleased and sincerely humbled to see Cryptomundo.com’s “The Top Cryptozoology Stories of 2005″ listed on Fimoculus’s “Top 20 Lists of 2005.” On December 29, 2005, Phil Kloer at Cox News Service put Cryptomundo.com’s list, “The Top Cryptozoology Books of 2005″ as #7 on Cox News Services’ “A Top 10 list of Top 10 lists” for 2005. Cryptomundo was honored by that recognition, as well. Wired News’ Mark Baard’s often-quoted comment captured in [...]