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!