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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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Saturday, January 16, 2010

LINDSAY SELBY: The Varberg Moat Creature

Varberg Fortress was built in 1287-1300 by Count Nielsen as protection against a Danish king who had declared him an outlaw. Varberg is a coastal town south of Gothenburg in Sweden. The fortress has a moat said to be inhabited by a small lake monster.

In August 2006 two witnesses claim to have seen a creature emerge from the dark water and devour a duck. The creature is described as brown, furless and with a 40 cm (about 15- 16 inches) long tail. Other witnesses also reported seeing something. The sightings made headlines in local newspapers and media. The moat is apparently connected with the sea. The reports were then taken up by the country-wide media and lots of people turned up to investigate what was in the moat. The water is murky so visibility is limited. One investigator tried to listen with microphones and divers tried to look for the creature. Nothing conclusive was found but some thought it could have been a seal, a big pike or a big catfish (Silurus glanis) that somehow got into the moat. It may have been placed there or got in by itself through the access to the sea.


I have been unable to find any more reports but it sounds like a seal and large pike are not unknown to take wild fowl if they get the chance. So the probability is a natural explanation and not an unknown creature. If anyone has any information about recent sightings or more information please post a comment.

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