I found the following from 2005 whilst browsing the web:
Wednesday, February 23, 2005. 'Loch Ness' eel frightens tourist”
A monster eel, which is believed to have taken up residence at a Warburton trout farm, east of Melbourne, has reportedly been sighted this morning. The eel, which is said to be at least three metres long with a head the size of a football, has been scaring fishermen at Tommy Finn's trout farm. Farm manager Gary Wales says an Irish tourist got the fright of his life when he encountered the eel early this morning. "Next thing he's banging on me bloody wall on the door of the house, banging, saying 'Gary, Gary I've seen it'. So I flew out of bed right, I said 'how big is it mate?' He said 'big as my bloody car'," he said. The operators of a trout farm are offering a $1000 reward to anyone who catches what has been described as Melbourne's own Loch Ness monster. It is believed the eel washed into the farm's ponds during this month's record breaking storms. source:http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200502/s1308868.htm
Reward offered for Melbourne 'Loch Ness' eel
The operators of a trout farm are offering a $1000 reward to anyone who catches Melbourne's own Loch Ness monster. A giant eel, believed to be around four metres long with a head the size of a football has been spotted at the trout farm at Warburton. It is believed the eel washed into the farm's ponds during this month's record breaking storms. Farm manager Gary Wales says efforts to catch the giant creature have so far been unsuccessful. "We don't want it harmed, this things probably 30-years-old, and he's come here probably by mistake and he's found himself a good little home and plenty of food," he said. "We hope to catch him alive and take him to the Melbourne Aquarium." He says he has never heard of such a large eel before. "No. Maybe it's Nessy, Nessy's offspring maybe, who knows, but no, it's a big eel.
source:http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200502/s1307064.htm
Does anyone in CFZ world know if they caught it and what happened to it? It would be fascinating to study and may well be a relative of Nessie!
Several rumors of New Zealand Taniwhas specify Giant eels. Tony Lucas and I have written each other on that subject before. I mentioned that is sounds like the same (smaller-category) Giant eels as seen in Europe, Eastern Canada and elsewhere in the world and Tony said "It is a worldwide phenomenon"
ReplyDeleteSeveral rumors of New Zealand Taniwhas specify Giant eels. Tony Lucas and I have written each other on that subject before. I mentioned that is sounds like the same (smaller-category) Giant eels as seen in Europe, Eastern Canada and elsewhere in the world and Tony said "It is a worldwide phenomenon"
ReplyDeleteI've been keeping tabs on the story for the CFZ's Aquatic Monster Study Group and I've not come across any update to this story either. However two things to bear in mind are eels can be very mobile (large or small) so if it is still alive and indeed if the sightings were accurate in the first place there is no guarantee it's not moved on to pastures or indeed lakes new.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments Dale and Oll. I believe there is some scientific work going on at the Sargasso Sea looking at eel migration. Maybe they will find a giant eel.There are so many reports from around the world that I feel someone will find one eventually. Unfortunately the publicity stunt pulled over Steve Alten's book at Loch Ness has rather dented their credibility.
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