MYTHICAL BEASTS--V
Modern Day
41. Trunko: In 1924 witnesses saw an unusual creature in the
sea
off the coast of Margate in South Africa. After a battle to
the death with two killer whales, the carcass of this unusual
animal washed up on the beach. Those who saw both the
fight and the subsequent carcass say that it was even larger
that the killer whales themselves (although succumbed due
to being outnumbered), was covered in snowy-white fur,
and possessed the trunk of an elephant and a lobster-like
tail so powerful it had slapped one whale twenty feet into
the air. Dubbed Trunko, the creature was thought to be a
local urban legend until four photographs of the unusual
carcass turned up years later!
the death with two killer whales, the carcass of this unusual
animal washed up on the beach. Those who saw both the
fight and the subsequent carcass say that it was even larger
that the killer whales themselves (although succumbed due
to being outnumbered), was covered in snowy-white fur,
and possessed the trunk of an elephant and a lobster-like
tail so powerful it had slapped one whale twenty feet into
the air. Dubbed Trunko, the creature was thought to be a
local urban legend until four photographs of the unusual
carcass turned up years later!
42. Bigfoot: Also known as Sasquatch, this
ape-like creature is
reported
to have been seen in the Pacific Northwest region
of America. Although the indigenous population of the
area have told of wild men in the folklore for hundreds of
years, many scientists believe bigfoot to be purely a hoax
perpertrated by locals. On the other hand, there has been
some evidence in support of the cryptid actually being real.
Most famously, in 1967 two men claimed to have captured a
specimen on video; this footage can be widely viewed and is
known as the Patterson-Gimlin film. This was proof plenty
for believers, however detractors of the creature’s existence
claim it is purely a man in an ape-suit. The subject of a 2007
photograph taken by a motion-triggered camera attached to
a tree was also dismissed as ‘not Bigfoot’ by the state’s Game
Commission who declared the animal seen is probably ‘a
bear with mange’.
of America. Although the indigenous population of the
area have told of wild men in the folklore for hundreds of
years, many scientists believe bigfoot to be purely a hoax
perpertrated by locals. On the other hand, there has been
some evidence in support of the cryptid actually being real.
Most famously, in 1967 two men claimed to have captured a
specimen on video; this footage can be widely viewed and is
known as the Patterson-Gimlin film. This was proof plenty
for believers, however detractors of the creature’s existence
claim it is purely a man in an ape-suit. The subject of a 2007
photograph taken by a motion-triggered camera attached to
a tree was also dismissed as ‘not Bigfoot’ by the state’s Game
Commission who declared the animal seen is probably ‘a
bear with mange’.
43. The Loveland Frog:
This modern-day legend hails from
Ohio
and has been spotted on a number of occasions.
Witnesses say the creature is four feet tall and takes the form
of a frog, but with the face of a human. Perhaps inhabiting
the nearby Little Miami River, the Frog (also sometimes
referred to as the Loveland Lizard) is surely a disturbing
sight!
Witnesses say the creature is four feet tall and takes the form
of a frog, but with the face of a human. Perhaps inhabiting
the nearby Little Miami River, the Frog (also sometimes
referred to as the Loveland Lizard) is surely a disturbing
sight!
44. Mothman: Between 1966 and 1967, a huge man-like
creature
- but with the wings of a moth - was seen by a number
of witnesses in the Point Pleasant area of West Virginia.
It was speculated (in John Keel’s 1975 book The Mothman Prophecies) that the creature was part of a host of other supernatural events in the area at the time. The sightings were (of course) played down by the country sheriff, who suggested people might have seen ‘a rather large heron’ and become confused.
45. The Beast of Bodmin
Moor: After farmers in Cornwall
discovered
their livestock mutilated, a number of theories
were put forward. One that quickly rose in popularity was
that an escaped wildcat may have been hunting for prey.
Despite this explanation being rejected by scientists (due
to their belief that larger species of cat could not survive
outdoors throughout England’s cold winters), the theory
had gained a strong foothold and the legend was born.
The beast is just one example of what are called Phantom
Cats or Alien Big Cats - essentially species believed to be
living in an area to which they are not native. The legend
of the Beast of Bodmin Moor gained such notoriety that
the United Kingdom Ministry of Agriculture conducted an
official investigation in 1995, and although they could not
prove the cat’s existence, they stated explicitly that it was a
possibility!
were put forward. One that quickly rose in popularity was
that an escaped wildcat may have been hunting for prey.
Despite this explanation being rejected by scientists (due
to their belief that larger species of cat could not survive
outdoors throughout England’s cold winters), the theory
had gained a strong foothold and the legend was born.
The beast is just one example of what are called Phantom
Cats or Alien Big Cats - essentially species believed to be
living in an area to which they are not native. The legend
of the Beast of Bodmin Moor gained such notoriety that
the United Kingdom Ministry of Agriculture conducted an
official investigation in 1995, and although they could not
prove the cat’s existence, they stated explicitly that it was a
possibility!
46. Melon Heads: In Michigan, Ohio and Connecticut, in
recent
years people have spoken in hushed voices of the
Melon Heads or Wobble Heads, humanoids with bulbous
heads who - when they cannot secretly forage enough food
for sustenance - emerge from their hiding places to attack
locals. Some say the Melon Heads are people on whom
terrible experiments were conducted who (after slaying
their captor) now lead a feral existence, whereas others
believe their terrifying appearance is due to generations of
cannibalism. The legend of these creatures became so well
known that a film about them was made!
Melon Heads or Wobble Heads, humanoids with bulbous
heads who - when they cannot secretly forage enough food
for sustenance - emerge from their hiding places to attack
locals. Some say the Melon Heads are people on whom
terrible experiments were conducted who (after slaying
their captor) now lead a feral existence, whereas others
believe their terrifying appearance is due to generations of
cannibalism. The legend of these creatures became so well
known that a film about them was made!
47. The Hodag: In 1893, local
newspapers in Wisconsin
published
a photograph of what appeared to be a gruesome
creature with the head of a frog (on which sat the face of
an elephant), supported by thick legs at the end of which
were huge claws. The beast had the back of a dinosaur and
a tail which sported spears at its end. Although the man
who began the expedition to capture this strange animal -
called a Hodag - eventually ‘admitted’ its existence was a
hoax, some have speculated he only did this to protect the
remaining members of its species who live on to this very
day...
creature with the head of a frog (on which sat the face of
an elephant), supported by thick legs at the end of which
were huge claws. The beast had the back of a dinosaur and
a tail which sported spears at its end. Although the man
who began the expedition to capture this strange animal -
called a Hodag - eventually ‘admitted’ its existence was a
hoax, some have speculated he only did this to protect the
remaining members of its species who live on to this very
day...
48. The Loch Ness
Monster: One of the world’s most famous
cryptids,
this beast inhabits Loch Ness in the Scottish
Highlands (Loch being the Scottish word for a lake or
sea inlet). Over the years there has been much ‘evidence’
put forward of Nessie (as the creature has come to be
known) including photographs, film and even sonar scans.
Generally, the monster is considered to be a hump-backed
water creature, with many speculating that it could be a
plesiosaur (or more likely a family of this or similar species)
that has survived since the dinosaur age.
Highlands (Loch being the Scottish word for a lake or
sea inlet). Over the years there has been much ‘evidence’
put forward of Nessie (as the creature has come to be
known) including photographs, film and even sonar scans.
Generally, the monster is considered to be a hump-backed
water creature, with many speculating that it could be a
plesiosaur (or more likely a family of this or similar species)
that has survived since the dinosaur age.
49. Gef: In 1930s Britain, one animal from a species that
scientists
knew existed became the subject of widespread
zoological press reports - a mongoose called Gef. What
was particularly unusual however was that this mongoose
could talk. Living in a farmhouse on the Isle of Man, the
creature said that he was born in New Delhi in India in
1852 and was in fact an ‘invisible ghost mongoose’. When
asked what he looked like, Gef said that if you saw him you
would be turned into a pillar or stone or salt. Proof of Gef’s
existence was never found, and some accused the family
of perpetrating a hoax - fuelled by one investigator’s belief
that the daughter used ventriloquism to fool people into
thinking they had heard Gef’s voice from elsewhere!
zoological press reports - a mongoose called Gef. What
was particularly unusual however was that this mongoose
could talk. Living in a farmhouse on the Isle of Man, the
creature said that he was born in New Delhi in India in
1852 and was in fact an ‘invisible ghost mongoose’. When
asked what he looked like, Gef said that if you saw him you
would be turned into a pillar or stone or salt. Proof of Gef’s
existence was never found, and some accused the family
of perpetrating a hoax - fuelled by one investigator’s belief
that the daughter used ventriloquism to fool people into
thinking they had heard Gef’s voice from elsewhere!
50. Yeti: Also known as the Abominable Snowman, this creature
is
one legendary beast that a wide number of scientists
believe may truly be real. Living in the Himalayas (around
Nepal and Tibet) and resembling a large ape that walks on
two feet like a human, the creature has been part of local
mythology for hundreds of years, and became known across
the wider world in the late 19th century. Samples of animal
material such as fur have actually been found in the region
and have been subjected to DNA tests and other scientific
analysis. The results of these have surprised many - the
DNA matched that of an ancient polar bear that lived one
hundred thousand years ago. It is therefore highly possible
that the Yeti of today could exist as a species not found
elsewhere in the world, having evolved into the rarely seen
beast.
believe may truly be real. Living in the Himalayas (around
Nepal and Tibet) and resembling a large ape that walks on
two feet like a human, the creature has been part of local
mythology for hundreds of years, and became known across
the wider world in the late 19th century. Samples of animal
material such as fur have actually been found in the region
and have been subjected to DNA tests and other scientific
analysis. The results of these have surprised many - the
DNA matched that of an ancient polar bear that lived one
hundred thousand years ago. It is therefore highly possible
that the Yeti of today could exist as a species not found
elsewhere in the world, having evolved into the rarely seen
beast.
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