OLL LEWIS: 5 Questions on… Cryptozoology - NAOMI WEST

In the hot-seat today is Naomi West. Naomi and her husband Richie are fairly recent additions to the CFZ team but in the short time we have known them they have become invaluable colleagues and friends. Currently they are achieving great things in their investigation of the hairless blue dogs of Texas.

So, Naomi, here are your 5 questions on… Cryptozoology.

1) How did you first become interested in cryptozoology?

I stumbled into it over a year ago through Nick Redfern's interviews and books.

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

Unfortunately, no.

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

I believe that eventually science will get to the bottom of lake monsters with decades of investigation (due to high public interest) and technological advances being in its favour. At the risk of sounding biased, I see the hairless canine mystery being solved very soon, with the continuing availability of carcasses allowing for collection of more samples.

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

This is a hard question to answer as all we have to go on for the most mysterious cryptids are reports of sightings. So while I wouldn't venture to say that a cryptid is not likely to exist, I would say that those cryptids with a seeming other-dimensional nature, such as Mothman/Owlman, etc. are the least likely to ever be truly discovered and studied.

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

Oh dear. I am very new to the field and haven't read much on cryptids yet, but for entertainment purposes I would have to say Three Men Seeking Monsters. However, a book I have on my list to read that I have heard is really good is Ken Gerhard's Big Bird: Modern Sightings of Flying Monsters. The subject of the Big Birds is definitely at the top of my cryptid list!