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Half a century ago, Belgian Zoologist Bernard Heuvelmans first codified cryptozoology in his book On the Track of Unknown Animals.

The Centre for Fortean Zoology (CFZ) are still on the track, and have been since 1992. But as if chasing unknown animals wasn't enough, we are involved in education, conservation, and good old-fashioned natural history! We already have three journals, the largest cryptozoological publishing house in the world, CFZtv, and the largest cryptozoological conference in the English-speaking world, but in January 2009 someone suggested that we started a daily online magazine! The CFZ bloggo is a collaborative effort by a coalition of members, friends, and supporters of the CFZ, and covers all the subjects with which we deal, with a smattering of music, high strangeness and surreal humour to make up the mix.

It is edited by CFZ Director Jon Downes, and subbed by the lovely Lizzy Bitakara'mire (formerly Clancy), scourge of improper syntax. The daily newsblog is edited by Corinna Downes, head administratrix of the CFZ, and the indexing is done by Lee Canty and Kathy Imbriani. There is regular news from the CFZ Mystery Cat study group, and regular fortean bird news from 'The Watcher of the Skies'. Regular bloggers include Dr Karl Shuker, Dale Drinnon, Richard Muirhead and Richard Freeman.The CFZ bloggo is updated daily, and there's nothing quite like it anywhere else. Come and join us...

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Wednesday, February 10, 2010

MANY THANKS..

I want to offer most sincere thanks to Adam Barak of Hampshire for his most generous donation, which will go towards equipment for the next expedition (details to be announced shortly).

JANUARY'S HIT PARADE FROM CFZ PRESS

UK



1 The Amateur Naturalist #7 (-)
2 The Mystery animals of Britain: Kent by Neil Arnold (4)
3= The Owlman and Others by Jonathan Downes (-)
3= Predator Deathmatch by Nick Molloy (-)
5= Big Bird by Ken Gerhard (-)
5= The Smaller Mystery Carnivores of the Westcountry by Jon Downes (-)
5= Extraordinary Animals Revisited by Dr Karl Shuker (1)
5= Dark Dorset - Calendar Customs by Robert Newland (7)
5= The CFZ Yearbook 1996 (-)
10 Man Monkey - In Search of the British Bigfoot by Nick Redfern (3)



US


1 Big Bird by Ken Gerhard (3)
2 Extraordinary Animals Revisited by Dr Karl Shuker (2)
3 Dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals on stamps by Dr Karl Shuker (5)
4= Monster - the A-Z of Zooform Phenomena by Neil Arnold (1)
4= Giant Snakes - Michael Newton (-)
6= Man Monkey - In Search of the British Bigfoot by Nick Redfern (-)
6= Animals & Men Collected editions Vol 2 (Issues 6-10) (-)
8= The Owlman and Others by Jonathan Downes (6)
8= In the wake of Bernard Heuvelmans by Michael Woodley (5)
10 The Mystery animals of Britain: The Western Isles by Glen Vaudrey (10)


Last month's positions in this pinky colour, which I think is called cerise.

Back to normal, sales-wise; normal for the recession that is, which is a little disappointing after such a groovy Christmas. I made a judgement call this month - the biggest seller was one of our journals rather than a book, but they are all produced by the same process, and through the same distributor.

LINDSAY SELBY: Lough Fadda interview

In view of the interest and discussion on the Lough Fadda sighting I have scanned in the interview by Ted Holiday and the passage about what happened when they dynamited the Lough. For the pedants amongst you it comes from The Dragon and the Disc by F. W. Holiday 1973 ed. published by W.W. Norton New York. (hardback).

Click on the pictures to enlarge..

OLL LEWIS: 5 QUESTIONS ON… CRYPTOZOOLOGY - TANIA POOLE

Our guest today is Tania Poole. Tania is a Fortean and cryptozoological researcher from Australia. Recently Tania has been to Bungay in Suffolk researching the Black Dog myth and history with David Waldren who is set to publish a book on the phenomena, for which Tania has illustrated the cover.

And so, Tania Poole, here are your 5 questions on… Cryptozoology.

1) How did you first become interested in cryptozoology?

In the early 90s I used to read books in high school about 'Unsolved Mysteries' - ghosts, occult, monsters, disappearances - things like that I've always had the fascination, especially since I got heavily into UFOs at age 13. I was 27 when I became re-interested in it thanks to the CFZ and buying Fortean Times.

2) Have you ever personally seen a cryptid or secondary evidence of a cryptid, if so can you please describe your encounter?

This is probably nothing but I saw something strange at night once in the countryside at Moorabool, outside Geelong in Australia, which is Big Cat country. I passed a dark shadow by the paddock fence; it had absolutely no shape or features and I had my highbeam lights on. I did a u-turn but it disappeared through the paddock fence when I drove back towards it. It had no shape to it - it was just a shadow. It could have been anything - it was weird, but could probably be explained.

3) Which cryptids do you think are the most likely to be scientifically discovered and described some day, and why?

Probably ABCs, a few sea creatures that have not been explained and maybe even the orang pendek. The thylacine might rear its head again one day; I know quite a few people who have seen one.

4) Which cryptids do you think are the least likely to exist?

I think the chupacabra because I am yet to really hear of a true description, and it seems to be a joke now - people who see something weird now just call it a chupacabra. Its just not believable anymore.

5) If you had to pick your favourite cryptozoological book (not including books you may have written yourself) what would you choose?

I enjoyed Bunyips and Bigfoots by Malcolm Smith, Alien Animals by the Bords. Nick Redfern's book Three men seeking monsters covers a lot of interesting stuff too. There is so much I still have to read!

RARE CATS ON FILM

Lindsay, (bless her) sent me this link which is apparently the first film ever taken of the Sundaland clouded leopard in its natural habitat. I would make a bunch of Geordie football jokes, but they are beyond me at such an early hour of the morning.

However, on the same page of the BBC site I also found this video, also taken this year, which is apparently the first ever film taken of wild Sumatran tigers.

Goodness me.

OLL LEWIS: Yesterday's News Today

http://cryptozoologynews.blogspot.com/

Usually I post something Fortean for my ‘on this day’ bit, or at least something a bit scifi, but not today… On this day in 1990 Nelson Mandela was released from prison in South Africa. I met Nelson in Cardiff 8 years later and he was a thoroughly decent chap.
And now, the news:

Image shows 'monkey' roaming Darwin
Locked in with 48 tigers
'Alien' fish found in cave lake
Jungle boogie
Dentist fixes eagle's broken beak
Lynx provides luge with animal magic
New Zealanders overwhelmed by cow explosion as sheep plummet
Hong Kong dieters warned over swallowing parasitic worms
Broadcaster fined over killing a rat on TV show
Cat owners are more intelligent than dog owners


Cat’s an interesting story.

CFZ AUSTRALIA: OOP Monkey spotted roaming Darwin (NT)

AN out-of-place monkey was picked up on CCTV footage crossing a Darwin road. (Pic from NT Department of Lands and Planning)

A bus driver and several passengers saw the small primate wandering around Darwin's northern suburbs on Friday morning.

Following the sightings, the Northern Territory environment department issued a warning for people to stay clear of the animal.

All registered monkeys have been accounted for.

The department says the roaming monkey could have been brought illegally to the Territory from Asia and could be carrying exotic diseases, such as rabies.

Posted By CFZ Australia to Centre for Fortean Zoology Australia at 2/09/2010 02:46:00 PM