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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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Friday, November 12, 2010

RAHEEL MUGHAL: The Cave Demons of the Kirthar Range, Pakistan

The Kirthar Range stretches along the Sindh-Balochistan border like a spine interconnecting the two provinces. The Kirthars are a dry and arid expanse devoid of trees and natural greenery of which most of Pakistan is famous for. In the summer temperatures in this relatively bleak place can reach 50 degrees C (12 degrees F) and winter frost can plummet down to minus figures, freezing shallow ponds.


The Kirthar Range is inhabited by a number of tribes; most notable of these are the Brahais, who inhabit both sides of the Sindh-Balochistan divide, as well as the Chuttas of Balochistan, the Chandius and Guinchus of Sindh, respectively. Life for them is a constant struggle of migration between the pastures of the highlands in the summer and the lowlands in the winter.


These tribes have a rich oral history along with a culture that is formed on the basis of storytelling. Most of the stories describe a number of varied supernatural creatures said to inhabit the region in dark caves and crevices. One such species are the cave demons of the Kirthar Range.


Stretching all the way up to 5,000 ft (1,500 metres), the high peak of Machal is virtually unexplored. It is through this deep and narrow cleft that the Khenji a slopped incline branches into the Toshangi cave system with its submerged springs. On either side limestone walls rise almost 700 ft (200 metres) above the calm and supposedly bottomless lake.

Legend has it that the main cleft hides a dark secret: a large cauldron brimming with gold and jewels hangs at the head of the Khenji. This is said to be inaccessible from all sides and visible only from the water; it has always been a major obstacle for men, for not only is the cauldron difficult to get hold of but it is guarded by hideous, giant, bat-like demons with a taste for human blood.

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