Bigfoot and Cryptozoology FAQ .80
Modern science believes it knows most major large animals in the world today. Most areas on
Earth have been explored, most places have been mapped and surveyed. Despite all this, reports
of strange, unknown creatures have come from all over the world. From large , hairy, man-like
beasts in the Pacific Norwest of North America (known as Bigfoot), to Dinosaurs in central
Africa (Mokele-Mbembe), to giant birds, the variety of the creatures is astounding. The most
recent mass sighting of an unknown creature is taking place in Puerto Rico. This creature has been
dubbed El Chupacabra
Q. What is Cryptozoology?
A. Cryptozoology is literally the study of unknown creatures, whether in the land air or sea.
Q. Have any genuine unknown creatures been found, and authenticated by science?
A. Yes. A few have, the most notable, the Coelacanth, a fish which had been thought to have
been extict for 65 million years. It was caught by fishermen a while back. Also, the Gorilla was
thought to be mythical until the turn of the century.
Q. What about this creature in Puerto Rico?
A. It's called a chupacabra, or "goat-sucker". This is the name given to an unknown monster that
has been killing goats and small pets there. It apparently drinks the blood of these animals, as well
as mutilating them. The chupacabra looks like a bizare cross between a kangaroo, a porcupine,
and a so-called grey alien. The body and legs are kangaroo like, with porcupine quills covering
the body, and the head and arms look like they are from an alien. While this may sound wild,
there have been hundreds of witnesses, most very credible.
Recently, reports of the Chupacabra have been coming from Miami and California.
Drawing of Chupacabra from Strange Magazine
Q. What is this Mokele-Mbembe thing?
A. Mokele Mbembe (literally, "one who stops the flow of rivers") is apparently a very large animal
in the Congo in Africa. Fairly reliable reports of it have occured since the 18th century.
Descriptions from witnesses make it appear to be a Brontosaurus. Several recent expeditions to
the Congo to look for it have been mostly unsuccessful, though.
Q. Can you give me more examples of Cryptozoology, besides Bigfoot, that fish, and that
Dinosaur?
A. Sure. Sea and Lake monsters also fall under the banner of Cryptozoology, like the Loch Ness
Monster. So do things like giant octupii, which have occasionally washed up dead on beaches,
but haven't been seen at sea. Animals that are in the wrong places, like Kangaroos in North
America, or Apes in South America, Big cats in England are also Cryptozoological mysteries.
Also, there have been giant bird reports, strange worms, mer-folk, list is almost endless.
Q. Kangaroos? In North America? You must be kidding.
A. Nope. There have been dozens of sightings by rational , reasonable observers, not to mention
the occasional photograph. The most famous incident occured in Chicago, in the 70s, where
police were called to investigate a 'roo sighting. Upon arriving, the two policemen saw the 'roo,
and apparently attempted to arrest it. It resisted, and the 2 cops backed off. Not wanting to shoot
it, they could only watch and radio for help, as it hopped off.
There was also a photo taken of one in Wisconsin. It shows very clearly a picture of a roo
(actually, a wallaby).
Q. How many lakes supposedly have lake monsters?
A. Quite a few of the big ones. Loch Ness in Scotland for one (Nessie), Lake Champlain
(Champ), Lake Okanagan in Canada (Ogopogo).
Q. What is Bigoot?
A. Bigfoot is a big, hairy, bipedal (walks on 2 legs), manish looking creature. While known as
Bigoot in the Pacific Northwest of North America, it has different names throughout the world and
throughout the United States.
Q. What are other names for Bigfoot?
A. In Missouri, part of the United States, bigfoot is known as Momo. In Florida, another state in
the US, it is known as the Skunk Ape. In Russia, bigfeet are known as Almas. There are literally
dozens of different names.
Q. Are there any photos or film taken of Bigfoot?
A. In 1967, a man named Roger Patterson who was out looking for Bigfoot, apparently found
one, and filmed it for a few seconds. This film has been show on many shows, and apears to
depict a female Bigfoot walk off into the brush. Detractors say it's a person in a gorilla suit. There
have been other films, but none as clear as this one. It's either a fake, or a real Bigfoot. While it
does look like a guy in a monkey suit, in fairness, no zipper shows, and it is claimed that only 2
places could have made suits that good then, and neither place did so.
Q. If I see a Bigfoot, what should I do?
A. Well, that's a tough question. While most encounters with Bigfeet have been fleeting and
reasonable friendly, on occasions, they have been hostile. If you have a weapon, I'd say, be
friendly towards it, but be prepared to defend yourself. Otherwise, be very cautious.
Q. Is Bigfoot the same thing as the Abonimible Snowman?
A. Maybe. They sound similar. However, the evidence for the Abonimible Snowman (ABSM) is
fleeting, at best, while the evidence for Bigfoot is somewhat better. In the areas where ABSMs
are reported, Bhuddist monks often wander barefoot and wearing little clothing, which could
cause some reports. The ABSM is also known as the Yeti.
Q. What's this Sasquatch thing? Isn't that a Bigfoot critter?
A. Well, the term Sasquatch is often used in place of Bigfoot. I personally don't like it because
Sasquatch was originally the name of a Giant Native American hero, in Native American legends,
and meant a real human, not a hairy monster.
Q. Giant birds?
A. Yep, many people have seen giant birds in the sky. They are often mistaken for planes, until
the wings flap. One such case happened in where I live, in St. Louis, during World War II.
Hundreds , if not thousands, saw a giant fly fly over St. Louis (as reported by the old
Globe-Democrat - I haven't seen the article, but I've heard it mentioned in books).
Q. What are some good books to read about Cryptozoology?
A. I'd recommend anything by Jerome Clark and/or Loren Coleman. They provide a rational, and
interesting view of this field. For cryptozoology with a paranormal twist, try John Keel (especially
The Mysterious Guide to Myterious Beings). The late Ivan Sanderson was also a giant in the field,
and his books are worth a look. And of course, the books of Charle Fort are always fascinating.
Glossary of Cyptozoolical terms and critters
Abominable Snowman - The Himalayan version of Bigfoot, or a hairy ape like man beast with
giant
feet
Alma - Russian version of Bigfoot, or the Abominable Snowman. Found in Siberia. A couple
have been reportedly killed by expeditions, but alas, no body.
Black Dog - Mysterious large dogs that are common in the UK. They appear and disappear
mysteriously, literally out of thin air. The Hound of the Baskervilles was based on this,
as well as a popular Led Zeppelin song. They have occasionally been known to speak.
Black Cat - Sort of like the Black Dog, only Black Cats are , well, Cats. Usually, they are
described
as panther like. Common in the UK, and the midwest of the US. They seem to be more
tangible than Black Dogs, as sometimes they kill farm animals.
Champ - The lake monster of Lake Champlain, in the NE section of N. America.
Chupacabra- Literally, goat sucker. This strange creature has been killing animals in Puerto Rico.
Kangaroos, Errant or Phantom - Kangaroos showing up in the wrong place, like the midwest of
the US,
and not having a reason for being there.
Kraken - A name for a giant sea monster. Most suspect that Kraken reports were actually of a
giant squid, or a giant octopus.
Momo - The name of Bigfoot in Missouri. It comes from Missouri Monster - the abreviation for
Missouri is Mo.
Mothman - A weird, winged humanoid figure that appeared frequently in West Virginia in the 60s
Nessie - The King (or Queen) of Lake Monsters. Nessie lives in Lock Ness, and England
Ogopogo - The name of a lake monster of Lake Okanagan, Ontario.
Oliver - The name of an apparent missing link, or possibly hybrid, between Apes and Man.
Reportedly, this creature has one more chromosome than a human, and one less than a chimp.
Skunk Ape - The name of Bigfoot in Florida, so named because of the awful stench
Waterhorse - Mythological name for lake monsters, or at least it may be. In lore, water horse,
were usually ponys that lived near a lake. Children would get on the water horse, which would
then go jump in the lake, drowning the child.
Werewolf - A person who can change into a wolf. There have not been many recent cases, but
who knows? One famous such wolves was the Beast of Gevaudan, which reported
killed and ate 60 people (not at once, though)
Yeti - Another name for the Abominable Snowman, who lives in the Himalayas. It's also the
name for a sort of demon, which can cause difficulty.
Text Copyright 1996 by Jeremy Reaban
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