With the death of Robert Rines, I got to thinking about how many cryptozoologists have passed away and what the future holds. I was quite young when I started hanging out at Loch Ness and looking for Nessie but I am 54 now and have developed a serious health condition so future vigils by the loch may be in doubt. I wondered what will happen to the hunt for Nessie? Are there young people out there prepared to give up their time and money to spend lonely days , often in bad weather, camped by the loch? I know Steve Feltham still resides by the loch, and he is younger than me, but for how much longer can he continue when he gets older?
What does it mean for the future of cryptozoology? Will there still be people in 25 years time hunting for bigfoot, if it is not proven to exist or not exist by then?
We need mysteries to investigate; we need monsters to pursue to make life more exciting, to give us a reason to explore. We also need young people to continue the search. I know most of us are considered eccentric and perhaps not the best role models but being different is what makes us who we are. There are people who have lost jobs because of their monster-hunting and been ostracised by their peers , and I have been denied promotions before because of (and I quote) my "eccentric hobby." They say to be accepted these days you have to be average; I hope this isn't true and there are young people out there who are reading blogs and reading books and thinking, 'yes, I would like to do this.' I hope the future of cryptozoology is assured and there are those out there prepared to go the extra mile to find the unknown and search for answers. The questions are easy , the answers hard to find, but I hope some brave souls will come forward and carry on investigating.
I believe Cryptozoology has Evolved. Where there were Monster hunters on the shores of Loch Ness hunting for neo Plesiosaurs in the past, I think there will certainly be cryptozoologists there in the future, though probably not looking for relic reptiles but maybe Sturgeon, outsized eels or possibly something completely new to science. Loch Ness is a very interesting place and is still well worthy of investigation and I hope researchers continue doing so until we fully understand what so many good honest people swear they have scene and hopefully be fully vindicated in the proses. THE SEARCH GOES ON.
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