In the world of cryptozoology we get quite used to inconclusive reports in newspapers. But I think that this one (sent to us by Michael Newton) is the most inconclusive yet!
http://www.portalangop.co.ao/motix/en_us/noticias/sociedade/2010/10/47/Strange-animal-caught-after-eight-hour-hunt,39250e87-a649-4833-b1bb-9e93d385d770.html:11/23/10 9:03 AMAngolaStrange animal caught after eight-hour huntLuanda - A strange animal that caused panic among people at Luanda's Hoji-ya-Henda road, district of Rangel for about eight hours was eventually caught at 05 pm by a team from Fire Department, Angop learnt.The panic started when the animal that had never been seen before was spotted on a Hoji-ya-Henda road tree.Due to its strange characteristics, the animal caused panic and traffic jam.The animal is under care of the Fire Department.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
DALE DRINNON: RECENT POSTINGS ON CHINESE 'WILDMAN' HAIR SAMPLES
Local people think hair of unidentified creature could be from "Wild Man"
Global Times
November 23 2010
The Shennongjia Nature Reserve in Hubei province has examined a strand of hair which it has not managed to identify, prompting local people to speculate that it may belong to the "Wild Man" – China's own Bigfoot.
Piao Jinlan, a researcher at the reserve, said that scientists need to continue their tests before they can identify the species. The hair is said to be thicker than human hair and thinner than horsetail hair, and the reserve posted a photo on its website on November 22.
More than 400 people have claimed to have seen the half-man, half-ape "Wild Man" in the area in the last 100 years. Witnesses describe the creature as walking upright, more than 2 meters tall and with grey, red or black hair all over its body. An investigative team was set up in 2009 and started a large-scale search for the mysterious creature in Shennongjia this year.
http://china.globaltimes.cn/top-photo/2010-11/595939.html
Shennongjia releases micrographs of unknown animal's hair
November 25, 2010
The Shengnongjia National Nature Reserve has released the micrographs of unknown animal hair on its website on Nov. 22. The micrographs show that the hair of the unknown animal is very different from human hair and horse tail hair. Therefore, the exact origin of the hair is worth studying. The micrographs that have been released are from the molecular lab under the Research Institute of Shennongjia National Nature Reserve. Using a microscope, Piao Jinlan, a researcher from the molecular lab, observed the unknown hair samples, which included black and light brown hair, and translucent cream-colored hair from the area where locals originally found the unknown hair.
She also used horse tail hair taken from a ski field located in southern Shennongjia and women's hair as references to compare her findings. Researchers spent nearly half a day to compare the hairs and their observable internal structures and agreed that they cannot determine whether the unknown hair is human hair or horse tail hair.
Although Piao has been using and looking through microscopes for a long time, the microscopic images of this unknown animal hair still surprised her. However, she believes that a further in-depth analysis is still needed, with more scientific technical means to make a qualitative conclusion. The local nature conservation sectors said they will not rule out adopting any openly suggested scientific identification methods in order to determine the source of the unknown animal hair as early as possible and to unveil the mystery of the unknown animal.
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90782/7210877.html
Global Times
November 23 2010
The Shennongjia Nature Reserve in Hubei province has examined a strand of hair which it has not managed to identify, prompting local people to speculate that it may belong to the "Wild Man" – China's own Bigfoot.
Piao Jinlan, a researcher at the reserve, said that scientists need to continue their tests before they can identify the species. The hair is said to be thicker than human hair and thinner than horsetail hair, and the reserve posted a photo on its website on November 22.
More than 400 people have claimed to have seen the half-man, half-ape "Wild Man" in the area in the last 100 years. Witnesses describe the creature as walking upright, more than 2 meters tall and with grey, red or black hair all over its body. An investigative team was set up in 2009 and started a large-scale search for the mysterious creature in Shennongjia this year.
http://china.globaltimes.cn/top-photo/2010-11/595939.html
Shennongjia releases micrographs of unknown animal's hair
November 25, 2010
The Shengnongjia National Nature Reserve has released the micrographs of unknown animal hair on its website on Nov. 22. The micrographs show that the hair of the unknown animal is very different from human hair and horse tail hair. Therefore, the exact origin of the hair is worth studying. The micrographs that have been released are from the molecular lab under the Research Institute of Shennongjia National Nature Reserve. Using a microscope, Piao Jinlan, a researcher from the molecular lab, observed the unknown hair samples, which included black and light brown hair, and translucent cream-colored hair from the area where locals originally found the unknown hair.
She also used horse tail hair taken from a ski field located in southern Shennongjia and women's hair as references to compare her findings. Researchers spent nearly half a day to compare the hairs and their observable internal structures and agreed that they cannot determine whether the unknown hair is human hair or horse tail hair.
Although Piao has been using and looking through microscopes for a long time, the microscopic images of this unknown animal hair still surprised her. However, she believes that a further in-depth analysis is still needed, with more scientific technical means to make a qualitative conclusion. The local nature conservation sectors said they will not rule out adopting any openly suggested scientific identification methods in order to determine the source of the unknown animal hair as early as possible and to unveil the mystery of the unknown animal.
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90782/7210877.html
MUIRHEAD`S MYSTERIES: SOME HONG KONG ODDITIES,BADGERS,FLYING LIZARDS AND DUGONGS.
Folks, over the last week or two, I have been searching through the Trove Australian newspaper online database, http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/search?adv=y with some interesting Hong-Kong-related results. Here they are, below, in chronological order.
There is a report in a 19th century travel book of flying lizards on islands of the coast of South China, which I read recently, which sounds very much like the area around Hong Kong and Macao. Unfortunately I didn`t note down the bibliographical details properly, though I have seen a photograph on the Net of dried flying lizards in a Hong Kong Chinese medicine market that look like Draco volans and I have read that there are flying lizards in China. Hong Kong Amphibians and Reptiles 2nd ed. has no mention of flying lizards in Hong Kong.
From The Land of Chrysanthemums Vol 4 1894 by Dr W.E. Roth `Notes of a Voyage from Queensland to Japan and China`
'The City Hall possesses a most interesting and typical collection of animal life captured within the colony which, considering that the area of the island is just about thirty square miles, certainly does it great credit. For instance, in addition to the insect fauna, comprising numerous beetles dragon-flies, butterflies and white ants, several worms, scorpions and snails, about six dozen different birds and over thirty varieties of reptiles have been discovered within its limits. According to the guide books, “ a small deer, a badger, and a species of wild cat are the only representatives of the larger wild animals.”'
The interesting thing is that it has never been definitely established as to whether or not the badger has ever been a part of Hong Kong`s fauna but here we have an example of it being stated that it was. The last record of a Chinese badger in Hong Kong was in 1922.
Grotesque Fish With Strange Habits The Advertiser (Adelaide) August 10th 1935
This short extract from a longer article could refer to the Dugong, or something else entirely:
'For instance there is the plenny, which is able to emit a piercing shriek; while in the waters around Hong Kong there is found a fish with a human looking head, which cries like a baby.'
World`s Laziest Creature. The Canberra Times January 18th 1937
One of the occupants of the London Zoo is Sligo, the Chinese Salamander, which as far as can be ascertained, is utterly unlike any other salamander or creature in the world. Exactly where he was born or who his parents were. Unknown also is the story of his early days- whether his father and mother,surprised at the appearance of their baby son, expelled him from the family, or whether the poor little creature, wandered off on his own.Somehow, Sligo managed to find the water, which is life to his kind and he battled through a lonely childhood, to be discovered eventually, flourishing in a disused drain in Hong Kong. From there, because his head was much flatter.his body blacker, and his length shorter than is fashionable among slamanders, he was labelled as a new species, and bundled off to the London Zoo.
Not one other salamander like Sligo has been found. He is, apparently, a creature unique in the world. His keeper says “ He should be in this tank for the next 40 to 50 years at least, though of course he may be different in this as he is in most other things.” …” Funny lungs he has,” says the keeper, “he would make a fortune as a diver if he was human. That is,if he worked at all, because I`ve never seen a more lazy creature: not a stroke of exercise, and we have to tickle him once a week to make him feed or he wouldn`t bother even to do that
The Manchu Man Fish The Queenslander September 28th 1938
The following extract concerns the Manchu Man Fish, probably the Dugong
Manchu Man Fish. “ Mention of the enterprising showman who toured the southern capitals with those slightly disguised embalmed dugongs that he exhibited as “mermaids”. “L.M.M.” (Queenslander 27/7/38) reminds me of a crowd I saw collected in George Street, Sydney, only a month ago. When I finally managed to push my way through the crowd I found I was staring into the window of a sporting goods shop, and was confronted by a peculiar looking beastie that appeared to be half-fish and half-monkey, a descriptive placard informing the curious that he was now looking at one of the celebrated Manchu man-fish, its habitat being the eastern waters of the China coast, where it had the reputation of living solely on the bodies of female children that had been cast into the waters of the sulky Whang-po by disgruntled mothers who had been expecting a man child. The placard finished with the statement that the man-fish was so rare that this one on exhibition had been the only one captured in the last 30 years…Even 20 years ago it was still possible to buy one of these deceptions in most Eastern ports. Writer had one, but it disappeared in smoke when the old S.S.Boon Sing went up in flames near Hong Kong in 1917. I tried to obtain one in 1928 , but I searched the bazaars of Shanghai and Kowloon unsuccessfully, and a two months` search around Singapore`s “kampong jawa” was no more successful.”
There is a blog dated December 10th 2010 with a photo of a Buddhist emptying a bucket or bag with a small octopus in it into Hong Kong/Victoria harbour. Apparently the monks buy animals from local Chinese markets in order to set them free. If this is going on unregulated then it is going to greatly alter the local fauna.
1. Brisbane Courier April 25th 1894 p.6
2. The Adelaide Advertiser August 10th 1935 p.9
3. The Canberra Times January 18th 1937 p.4
4. The Queenslander September 28th 1938 p.2
TALKING HEADS
ANIMALS
I`m mad, and that`s a fact
I found out, animals don`t help,
Animals think,they`re pretty smart
Shit on the ground, see in the dark
They walk around like a crazy dof
Make a mistake in the parking lot
Always bumping into things
Always let you down,down,down…
There is a report in a 19th century travel book of flying lizards on islands of the coast of South China, which I read recently, which sounds very much like the area around Hong Kong and Macao. Unfortunately I didn`t note down the bibliographical details properly, though I have seen a photograph on the Net of dried flying lizards in a Hong Kong Chinese medicine market that look like Draco volans and I have read that there are flying lizards in China. Hong Kong Amphibians and Reptiles 2nd ed. has no mention of flying lizards in Hong Kong.
From The Land of Chrysanthemums Vol 4 1894 by Dr W.E. Roth `Notes of a Voyage from Queensland to Japan and China`
'The City Hall possesses a most interesting and typical collection of animal life captured within the colony which, considering that the area of the island is just about thirty square miles, certainly does it great credit. For instance, in addition to the insect fauna, comprising numerous beetles dragon-flies, butterflies and white ants, several worms, scorpions and snails, about six dozen different birds and over thirty varieties of reptiles have been discovered within its limits. According to the guide books, “ a small deer, a badger, and a species of wild cat are the only representatives of the larger wild animals.”'
The interesting thing is that it has never been definitely established as to whether or not the badger has ever been a part of Hong Kong`s fauna but here we have an example of it being stated that it was. The last record of a Chinese badger in Hong Kong was in 1922.
Grotesque Fish With Strange Habits The Advertiser (Adelaide) August 10th 1935
This short extract from a longer article could refer to the Dugong, or something else entirely:
'For instance there is the plenny, which is able to emit a piercing shriek; while in the waters around Hong Kong there is found a fish with a human looking head, which cries like a baby.'
World`s Laziest Creature. The Canberra Times January 18th 1937
One of the occupants of the London Zoo is Sligo, the Chinese Salamander, which as far as can be ascertained, is utterly unlike any other salamander or creature in the world. Exactly where he was born or who his parents were. Unknown also is the story of his early days- whether his father and mother,surprised at the appearance of their baby son, expelled him from the family, or whether the poor little creature, wandered off on his own.Somehow, Sligo managed to find the water, which is life to his kind and he battled through a lonely childhood, to be discovered eventually, flourishing in a disused drain in Hong Kong. From there, because his head was much flatter.his body blacker, and his length shorter than is fashionable among slamanders, he was labelled as a new species, and bundled off to the London Zoo.
Not one other salamander like Sligo has been found. He is, apparently, a creature unique in the world. His keeper says “ He should be in this tank for the next 40 to 50 years at least, though of course he may be different in this as he is in most other things.” …” Funny lungs he has,” says the keeper, “he would make a fortune as a diver if he was human. That is,if he worked at all, because I`ve never seen a more lazy creature: not a stroke of exercise, and we have to tickle him once a week to make him feed or he wouldn`t bother even to do that
The Manchu Man Fish The Queenslander September 28th 1938
The following extract concerns the Manchu Man Fish, probably the Dugong
Manchu Man Fish. “ Mention of the enterprising showman who toured the southern capitals with those slightly disguised embalmed dugongs that he exhibited as “mermaids”. “L.M.M.” (Queenslander 27/7/38) reminds me of a crowd I saw collected in George Street, Sydney, only a month ago. When I finally managed to push my way through the crowd I found I was staring into the window of a sporting goods shop, and was confronted by a peculiar looking beastie that appeared to be half-fish and half-monkey, a descriptive placard informing the curious that he was now looking at one of the celebrated Manchu man-fish, its habitat being the eastern waters of the China coast, where it had the reputation of living solely on the bodies of female children that had been cast into the waters of the sulky Whang-po by disgruntled mothers who had been expecting a man child. The placard finished with the statement that the man-fish was so rare that this one on exhibition had been the only one captured in the last 30 years…Even 20 years ago it was still possible to buy one of these deceptions in most Eastern ports. Writer had one, but it disappeared in smoke when the old S.S.Boon Sing went up in flames near Hong Kong in 1917. I tried to obtain one in 1928 , but I searched the bazaars of Shanghai and Kowloon unsuccessfully, and a two months` search around Singapore`s “kampong jawa” was no more successful.”
There is a blog dated December 10th 2010 with a photo of a Buddhist emptying a bucket or bag with a small octopus in it into Hong Kong/Victoria harbour. Apparently the monks buy animals from local Chinese markets in order to set them free. If this is going on unregulated then it is going to greatly alter the local fauna.
1. Brisbane Courier April 25th 1894 p.6
2. The Adelaide Advertiser August 10th 1935 p.9
3. The Canberra Times January 18th 1937 p.4
4. The Queenslander September 28th 1938 p.2
TALKING HEADS
ANIMALS
I`m mad, and that`s a fact
I found out, animals don`t help,
Animals think,they`re pretty smart
Shit on the ground, see in the dark
They walk around like a crazy dof
Make a mistake in the parking lot
Always bumping into things
Always let you down,down,down…
I'M NOT SURE WHETHER THIS WILL ANNOY GRAHAM OR NICK REDFERN MOST (Whatever happened to never trusting hippies)
Carrying on with our completely on-topic (for a blog dealing with cryptozoology) look at silver machines and their covers...
Oh Graham. What have you started?
ODDS AND SODS FOM CHAD ARMENT (Some of which we have covered, some not)
A "black panther" carcass was being investigated in Australia:
http://hills-shire-times.whereilive.com.au/news/story/has-the-hills-big-cat-been-foundr/
It turned out to be a big feral cat:
http://www.hawkesburygazette.com.au/news/local/news/general/a-false-alarm-on-panther-find/2027398.aspx
A new thylacine museum gallery:
http://www.etravelblackboard.com/article/112560/the-wilderness-gallery-opens-the-worlds-first-private-thylacine-exhibition
Veiled chameleons in Hawaii:
http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/543898/Kia-i-Moku--Keep-an-eye-out-for-predatory-veiled-chameleons.html?nav=15
A fossil balloon-headed dolphin:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/12/101213-new-balloon-headed-dolphin-science-animals/
Late Loch Ness investigator Tim Dinsdale's son has taken up the search:
http://www.southendstandard.co.uk/news/county_news/8734835.Ex_detective___s_hunt_for_Loch_Ness_monster/
http://hills-shire-times.whereilive.com.au/news/story/has-the-hills-big-cat-been-foundr/
It turned out to be a big feral cat:
http://www.hawkesburygazette.com.au/news/local/news/general/a-false-alarm-on-panther-find/2027398.aspx
A new thylacine museum gallery:
http://www.etravelblackboard.com/article/112560/the-wilderness-gallery-opens-the-worlds-first-private-thylacine-exhibition
Veiled chameleons in Hawaii:
http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/543898/Kia-i-Moku--Keep-an-eye-out-for-predatory-veiled-chameleons.html?nav=15
A fossil balloon-headed dolphin:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/12/101213-new-balloon-headed-dolphin-science-animals/
Late Loch Ness investigator Tim Dinsdale's son has taken up the search:
http://www.southendstandard.co.uk/news/county_news/8734835.Ex_detective___s_hunt_for_Loch_Ness_monster/
OLL LEWIS: Yesterday's News Today
http://cryptozoologynews.blogspot.com/
On this day in 1969 the US Air Force closed Project Blue Book, a study they had launched into UFO sightings. The study explained UFO sightings away by saying they were almost exclusively caused by mass hysteria, fabricated reports by people seeking to gain publicity or perpetrate a hoax, psychopathological persons or misidentification of conventional objects. However, despite these conclusions 22% of Blue Book’s investigations were marked as unsolved, so technically that means that 22% of cases were Unidentified Flying Objects.
And now, the news:
Gharial discovery update – Second study finds more...
Wild dogs photographed on the Masai Mara
Skunk stinks up Oklahoma town's $16,000 worth of t...
A strange glowing marine snail
Japan: 'Extinct' trout species rediscovered (via C...
Shape-shifting rotifers (via Chad Arment)
Galapagos penguin and flightless cormorants survey...
Penguins can be such creeps:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nQtRSHKDpg
On this day in 1969 the US Air Force closed Project Blue Book, a study they had launched into UFO sightings. The study explained UFO sightings away by saying they were almost exclusively caused by mass hysteria, fabricated reports by people seeking to gain publicity or perpetrate a hoax, psychopathological persons or misidentification of conventional objects. However, despite these conclusions 22% of Blue Book’s investigations were marked as unsolved, so technically that means that 22% of cases were Unidentified Flying Objects.
And now, the news:
Gharial discovery update – Second study finds more...
Wild dogs photographed on the Masai Mara
Skunk stinks up Oklahoma town's $16,000 worth of t...
A strange glowing marine snail
Japan: 'Extinct' trout species rediscovered (via C...
Shape-shifting rotifers (via Chad Arment)
Galapagos penguin and flightless cormorants survey...
Penguins can be such creeps:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nQtRSHKDpg