CRYPTOZOOLOGY ONLINE: Still on the Track: 11/25/12

WELCOME TO THE CFZ BLOG NETWORK: COME AND JOIN THE FUN

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...

Sunday, November 25, 2012

DALE DRINNON: Melba Ketchum's official announcement, Cedar and Willow, Benny's Blog

New at Frontiers of Zoology:

http://frontiersofzoology.blogspot.com/2012/11/melba-ketchams-official-announcement.html

New at Cedar and Willow:

http://cedar-and-willow.blogspot.com/2012/11/cedar-and-willow-beginnings.html

New Benny's Blog, Thelma Todd:

http://benny-drinnon.blogspot.com/2012/11/photoplays-fight-against-reduceomania.html

Best Wishes, Dale D.

ANOTHER TROPICAL LAMPREY

As regular CFZ watchers will know, back in 1998 I encountered a lamprey in a stream just outside Canovenas in Puerto Rico. This was particularly interesting as there are not supposed to be any freshwater lampreys. Richard Freeman has just found a news report which appears to be about a second one...

http://brazilweirdnews.blogspot.com.br/2012/10/the-giant-vampire-of-waters-of-allen.html

RICHARD FREEMAN SENT ME THIS

MUIRHEAD'S MYSTERIES: Hyaenas in Hong Kong

In the last few weeks I have found two new (to me at least) reports of “hyenas” in Hong Kong, which makes three records altogether if the folklore of hyenas found in the Walled City in Kowloon is to be believed, this slum being knocked down about 20 years ago. According to a web site, the hyena existed in China about 11,000 years ago.

The China Mail of September 26^th 1883 reported:

“For more than a month past, some large beast of prey, supposed to be either a panther or a hyena has been occasionally seen by Chinamen on the hillside above Robinson Road and in other localities and on one occasion recently an attempt was made to kill the creature with bamboos , but it escaped unhurt. Last Monday night this unwelcome visitor paid a visit to the back premises of Mr Stephen`s house, Rocklands and did terrible execution amongst a herd of goats belonging to Mr Stephens , killing eight and carrying one kid away altogether. Arrangements are being made to give the animal a warm reception if it re-visits the same spot, and we hope soon to hear of its death or capture (1)

Tytam Tiger The Hong Kong Telegraph November 2^nd 1892

THE TYTAM TYGER

STANLEY VILLAGE IN A STATE OF SIEGE

OUR OFFICE `GOAT` ON THE TRACK

For the past few days a wild beast of some kind has been devastating the country about Stanley and Tytam, sneaking chickens, eating bacon alive, and even attacking children.No authentic description of the monster is yet to hand ,but it is variously described as a wolf, a tiger, a fiery flaming dragon, a panther, a tiger-cat, and even a wild pig. The only thing certain about it is that it has big teeth, big enough to nearly kill a child. The little girl who was bitten on Saturday is doing very well over at the Hospital, though hardly quite out of danger yet.

The villagers in that region were terribly afraid (?). Last year Inspector Mann shot an awful monster of this sort near Shau-ki-wan and after the brute was dead it was discovered to be a stray dog. During life this `wonk` had figured as a panther, leopard, tiger and (if we remember rightly) the Daily Press called it a hyena. No wonder the poor thing came to tender hearted Mann and asked to be killed.

Lately there have been reports of tigers in Macao, and if a few of them were to swim from Macao to Hong Kong they would no doubt be…(2) . “ And here sadly the text goes on to the following page which unfortunately I`ve been unable to find on the data base. However, two things are clear.The incredulity of the English media in Hong Kong at the time to believe in the possibility of tigers in Hong Kong and the inclusion of beasts never officially recorded in Hong Kong such as wolves and hyenas. Else I`ve found the odd reference to cheetahs.

1. The

China

Mail September 26^th 1883

2. The Hong Kong Telegraph November 2^nd 1892

FORTEAN BIRD NEWS FROM THE WATCHER OF THE SKIES (CFZ)

In an article for the first edition of Cryptozoology Bernard Heuvelmans wrote that cryptozoology is the study of 'unexpected animals' and following on from that perfectly reasonable assertion, it seems to us that - whereas the study of out of place birds may not have the glamour of the hunt for bigfoot, or lake monsters - it is still a perfectly valid area for the Fortean Zoologist to be interested in. So, after about six months of regular postings on the main bloggo, Corinna has taken the plunge and started a 'Watcher of the Skies' blog of her own as part of the CFZ Bloggo Network.

THE CURUPIRA - A SHUKERNATURE PICTURE OF THE DAY

Here's something new for ShukerNature, which I plan to run as a regular series. Over the years, I have encountered all manner of unusual, noteworthy illustrations relevant to cryptozoology and/or animal mythology (and have even prepared a few myself) that may also be of interest to others. Consequently, I've decided to showcase an eclectic, annotated, ongoing selection of them here as ShukerNature Pictures of the Day.

Read on...

I'M YER GONZO BLOG DOO-DAH MAN

It's sunday so its poetry time,

when I do the Gonzo Blogs in rhyme
and explain like a cracked phonograph
that I do it cos it makes me laugh

And now we all can shout 'Wayhay!'
we launched a new venture yesterday
and in case you thought it couldn't get better
here's the first Gonzo Weekly newsletter
http://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.com/2012/11/all-gonzo-news-wots-fit-to-print.html

And now let's visit Texas Thom
a proper poet (unlike Jon,
who just comes out with puerile rhymes)
Thom comments on his life and times
http://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.com/2012/11/thom-world-poet-daily-poem_25.html

And now I want to bring to you
a very poignant interview
with Annie Haslam (she's the boss)
before her recent tragic loss
http://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.com/2012/11/link-annie-haslam-joins-music-illuminati.html

Now let me tell you girls and boys
I've always loved Eric Burdon's voice
of his songs I never have got bored
and I really like his new record
http://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.com/2012/11/eric-burdon-and-greenhornes-click-to.html

Now you must really understand
that Jefferson Starship are a band
who are really so damn good and fine
here's a review from the Borderline
http://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.com/2012/11/link-jefferson-starship-at-borderline.html

And finally for today's show
a perennial favourite don't you know
here's a picture of his golden cloak
and a Rick Wakeman interview (wot a damn nice bloke)
http://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.com/2012/11/link-rick-wakeman-good-bloke-nice-cloak.html

The Gonzo Daily is a two way process. If you have any news or want to write for us, please contact me at jon@eclipse.co.uk. If you are an artist and want to showcase your work, or even just say hello please write to me at gonzo@cfz.org.uk. Please copy, paste and spread the word about this magazine as widely as possible. We need people to read us in order to grow, and as soon as it is viable we shall be invading more traditional magaziney areas. Join in the fun, spread the word, and maybe if we all chant loud enough we CAN stop it raining. See you tomorrow...

The Gonzo Daily is - as the name implies - a daily online magazine (mostly) about artists connected to the Gonzo Multimedia group of companies. But it also has other stuff as and when the editor feels like it. The same team also do a weekly newsletter called - imaginitavely - The Gonzo Weekly. Find out about it at this link: http://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.com/2012/11/all-gonzo-news-wots-fit-to-print.html Jon Downes, the Editor of all these ventures is an old hippy of 53 who - together with his orange cat - puts it all together from a converted potato shed in a tumbledown cottage deep in rural Devon. He is ably assisted by his lovely wife Corinna, his bulldog/boxer Prudence, and a motley collection of social malcontents. Plus.. did we mention the orange cat?