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...

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Unlike some of our competitors we are not going to try and blackmail you into donating by saying that we won't continue if you don't. That would just be vulgar, but our lives, and those of the animals which we look after, would be a damn sight easier if we receive more donations to our fighting fund. Donate via Paypal today...




Wednesday, May 01, 2019

CFZ MONTHLY NEWSLETTER #43

Dear Friends,

For those of you not in the know, at the beginning of each month we send out a newsletter to all members of the CFZ. The most recent (which went out a few minutes ago) included articles on OTT, changes at the CFZ, the way forward, a misgendered gorilla, aggressive chickens, Prudence,  Patreon, a new book on Scandinavian cryptozoology, my new novel and record, a new book on vampires, Notes and Queries etc.

The infrastructure of the Centre for Fortean Zoology has changed rapidly over the last few years and truthfully doesn’t look like its going to stop changing anytime soon.

The newsletter costs a quid a month (or the equivalent in your currency) and is delivered straight into your inbox by a plethora of tiny invisible elves, or email if you prefer it that way.

You can sign up for it here: http://tinyurl.com/jtsq7ew

If you want to view a sample issue click here: http://tinyurl.com/pw7rw9l

COUNCIL ATROCITY - Heads should roll, but |I bet they don't

Kent County Council has unwittingly destroyed a nationally important roadside nature reserve (RNR), home to tens of thousands of orchids, as it carried out drainage ditch clearance works.
Verges at Blue Bell Hill RNR, just north of Maidstone, were churned up by heavy vehicles working on the site, in some places down to the chalk. 
Owned by Kent County Council, the verge has been managed by volunteers from Kent Wildlife Trust for 15 years. As well as 9,000 Pyramidal Orchids and nearly 8,000 Common Spotted Orchids, it was also home to Bee Orchids, the scarce Man Orchid and a wide range of other special chalk downland flowers. These attracted a host of pollinating bees, butterflies (20 species, including Chalkhill Blue) and other insects, which helped support a thriving population of small mammals as well as Common Lizards and Slow-worms.

A stark contrast: Blue Bell Hill RNR in summer 2018 and spring 2019 (Plantlife).
After removing some trees from the ditch, the council scraped the bank smooth. Such intensive works will inevitably mean that much of this wildlife is lost for good from the site; other species will take years to recover. At this time of year, the Common Spotted Orchids will have been beginning to show above ground, ahead of flowering from late May onward.
Dr Trevor Dines of Plantlife said: "I worry that I've become immune to 'bad stuff' happening to wild flowers over the years. But the destruction a few days ago of 17,000 orchids on a road verge in Kent proved that I'm not.

On The Track (of Unknown Animals) Ep. 102 (Mystery turtle, Loch Ness, Green activism etc)



Here we have the twenty-first episode of the relaunched webTV show by the Centre for Fortean Zoology, written and presented by Jon Downes and Charlotte Phillipson (who is away doing her exams), their families and other animals. This episode contains: • A parrot is singing • Parish notices • Charlotte and her GCSEs • Lee Walker • David Farrant • Prudence • "Sympathy for the Bulldog" • Worldwide climate protests • Extinction Rebellion • The extinction of the giant Yangtze softshell turtle • The giant turtle of Hoan Kiem • Mythology and hard science • Loch ness monster sightings • Lightning does strike twice at least on the Loch Ness webcam • Looking for a researcher • Junkie parrots • PRODUCT PLACEMENT - Jon's peculiar novel • Watcher of the skies...with comedy results • New and rediscovered: - New and rediscovered: New giant spitting cobra - New and rediscovered: New dwarf goby - New and rediscovered: New treefrog - New and rediscovered: New Chinese pit viper - New and rediscovered: New skink - New and rediscovered: Novataxal • Fair use • Coming next month • The Patreon campaign • Jon and Archie twat about on social media • The team says goodbye until next month _________________________________ Some useful contacts: CFZ Website www.cfz.org.uk CFZ Patreon https://www.patreon.com/CFZ CFZ Blog Network https://forteanzoology.blogspot.co.uk/ CFZ Publications http://cfzresources.com/publishing/ CFZtv https://www.youtube.com/user/cfztv CFZ Next Generation Initiative https://www.facebook.com/groups/29796...

FORTEAN BIRD NEWS FROM THE WATCHER OF THE SKIES

What has Corinna's column of Fortean bird news got to do with cryptozoology? 

Well, everything, actually! 

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.




THE GONZO BLOG DOO-DAH MAN MIGHT AS WELL BE SOMEWHERE

The Gonzo Daily: Wednesday
Some mountaineers from the Indian Army have photographed what they claim may be yeti tracks. The prints allegedly measured 32 inches by 15 inches (81 centimeters by 38 centimeters) and were spotted on April 9 close to Makalu Base Camp, an isolated mountainous area between Nepal and Tibet. So, as a result of this, BBC World Service phoned me for an interview, and I attempted to gently explain that the photographs were completely useless for diagnostic purposes. Then we had curry for tea...
FOR THOSE WHO LIKE TO FOLLOW MY DAY JOB: On The Track ep102
Toodle-pip
YER EDITOR SEZ:
THE DIGITAL PRAYER FLAG
You guys out in readership land recently did massive amounts of praying for my wife Corinna. And that now - at least at the moment - she appears to be cancer free. I am convinced that these two things are related. A prayer flag (Lung ta) is a colourful rectangular cloth, often found strung along mountain ridges and peaks high in the Himalayas, used to bless the surrounding countryside and for other purposes. I believe something similar happens with positive vibes transmitted electronically, and - having used it to such good effect with my dear wife's condition - I want to try it on a larger scale. I am still trying to work out the details, so watch this space.
Find out more:
Blessed be.
ALL TODAY'S GONZO NEWS WOT'S FIT TO PRINT:
ZEE BOX SETS LEAVE HOME
AL ATKINS INTERVIEW
JON ANDERSON IN THE NEWS
THOM THE WORLD POET: The Daily Poem
THE GONZO TRACK OF THE DAY:  Judge Smith / David J...
For those of you who are interested in such things, the Gonzo Privacy Policy is here:
And the CFZ Privacy Policy is here:
And, yes,
CHECK OUT THE GONZO STORES:
UK
US
AND OTHER STUFF FEATURING VARIOUS GONZO CONTRIBUTORS:
Our webTV show:
And if you fancy supporting it on Patreon:
And by the way chaps and chappesses, a trip to the Jon Downes megastore may seem to be in order:
Meanwhile I continue to pretend that I am a popstar, because now I have sold eight whole copies of my new album Coldharbour. If I continue at this rate I will get a silver disc sometime at the beginning of the next millenium. Coldharbour, by the way, can be found here: https://jondownes1.bandcamp.com/releases
I think it is really rather good, but then again I would say that wouldn't I?
AND THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE GONZO MAGAZINE:
Gonzo Weekly #335/36
THE DEAR PRUDENCE ISSUE
In a bittersweet issue we meet Raz of the eponymous RAZ band, to talk about their ground-breaking new album with Joey Molland late of Badfinger, Graham explains how Dave Brock has got involved with U.S Presidential politics, and also goes to the hawkwind Summer Sundae, Alan gets the Blues in Scotland, Richard joins the Rxtinction Rebellion whilst Jon muses upon them and other peculiar subjects including Daisy et al Imminentizing the Eschaton, Dean remembers Wally Hope, Kev remembers Bernie Tormé and an interview he did some years ago,  Carl looks at cult Spaghetti Westerns, whilst we all say goodbye to Prudence.
Hail Eris!
And there are radio shows from Mack Maloney and Friday Night Progressive AND Strange Fruit AND Canterbury Sans Frontieres. AND there is a column from Kev Rowland, BUT Neil Nixon, Mr Biffo, C J Stone, and Roy Weard,and the irrepressible Corinna are on hiatus.  There is also a collection of more news, reviews, views, interviews and southern dibblers who are walking in twos (OK, nothing to do with tiny marsupials who are paired up, but I got carried away with things that rhymed with OOOOS) than you can shake a stick at. And the best part is IT's ABSOLUTELY FREE!!!
This issue features:
Prudence, Julian Assange, John Lennon, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Woodstock 50, Camel, Pink Floyd, Prince, Olivia  McCarthy, Strange Fruit, Friday Night Progressive, Canterbury Sans Frontieres, Mack Maloney's Mystery Hour, Earl Thomas Conley, Paul Martin Raymond,  Dina (born Ondina Maria Farias Veloso), Jörg Demus, Kent Levaughn Harris, Leslie David Reed OBE, Johnny 'Hutch' Hutchinson (also known as Johnny Hutch), Joe Terry (born Joe Terranova), Ed Tigner, Jr., (better known as Eddie Tigner), Amar Pal, Dave Samuels, Dick Rivers (born Hervé Forneri), Pink Fairies, Rick Wakeman, Comic Strip Presents, Iona, Essra Mohawk, The RAZ Band, Joey Molland, Michael Rescigno, Kev Rowland, Bernie Tormé, Alan Dearling, Scottish Blues Weekend, Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, Big Jon Atkinson, Øyvind Stølefjell, Kyla Brox, New Blues Session, Nicole Smit, Gus Munro, Thomas Lucas, The Jensen Interceptors, Sandy Tweeddale, Tim Elliott,  Allan Jones, Toby Mottershead, Rollin' Joe Dalton, Richard Foreman, XR, Dean Phillips, Wally Dean, Voices, Wiegedood, Winterfylleth, Within the Giant's Reach, '77, Fistula/Hemdale, World Demise, Age of Taurus, Amanda Somerville's Trillium, Carl Marshall, Geordie Jackson, Spaghetti Westerns, Tony Klinger, Graham Inglis, Hawkwind, Jon Downes, The Wild Colonial Boy, Martin Springett, Daisy Campbell, John Higgs
And the last few issues are:
Issue 331-32 (Scott Walker)
Issue 329-30 (Charlie X)
Issue 327-28 (Hawkwind)
Issue 325-26 (Gonzo)
Issue 323-24 (Irvine Welsh)
Issue 321-22 (Discordianism)
Issue 319-20 (Brix Smith)
Issue 317-18 (Christmas)
Issue 315-16 (Steve Miller)
Issue 313-14 (Hawkwind)
Issue 311-12 (Extinction Rebellion)
Issue 309-10 (Steve Hillage)
Issue 307-8 (Michael Moorcock)
Issue 305-6 (Maartin Allcock)
Issue 303-4 (kOZFEST)
Issue 301-2 (Ringo Starr)
Issue 299-300 (Aretha Franklin)
Issue 298 (Alan in Hungary)
Issue 297 (Shir Ordo)
Issue 295-6 (Robert Berry)
Issue 294 (Bow Wow Wow)
Issue 293 (Stonehenge)
Issue 292 (Rolling Stones)
Issue 291 (Alien Weaponry)
Issue 290 (Frank Zappa)
Issue 289 (Misty in Roots)
Issue 288 (Paula Frazer)
Issue 287 (Boss Goodman)
Issue 286 (Monty Python)
Issue 285 (ELP)
Issue 284 (Strangelove)
Issue 283 (Record Store Day)
Issue 282 (Neil Finn and Fleetwood Mac)
Issue 281 (Carl Palmer)
Issue 280 (Steve Andrews)
All issues from #70 can be downloaded at www.gonzoweekly.com if you prefer. If you have problems downloading, just email me and I will add you to the Gonzo Weekly dropbox. The first 69 issues are archived there as well. Information is power chaps, we have to share it!
You can download the magazine in pdf form HERE:
SPECIAL NOTICE: If you, too, want to unleash the power of your inner rock journalist, and want to join a rapidly growing band of likewise minded weirdos please email me at jon@eclipse.co.uk The more the merrier really.
* 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 - imaginatively - The Gonzo Weekly. Find out about it at this link: www.gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.co.uk
* We should probably mention here, that some of our posts are links to things we have found on the internet that we think are of interest. We are not responsible for spelling or factual errors in other people's websites. Honest guv!
* Jon Downes, the Editor of all these ventures (and several others) is an old hippy of 59 who - together with a Jack Russell called Archie, an infantile orange cat named after a song by Frank Zappa, three other cats, one totally coincidentally named after one of the Manson Family, purely because she squeaks, puts it all together from a converted potato shed in a tumbledown cottage deep in rural Devon which he shares with various fish. He is ably assisted by his lovely wife Corinna, his elderly mother-in-law, and a motley collection of social malcontents. Plus.. did we mention Archie and the Cats?

CRYPTOLINK: Yeti prints?

A word about cryptolinks: we are not responsible for the content of cryptolinks, which are merely links to outside articles that we think are interesting (sometimes for the wrong reasons), usually posted up without any comment whatsoever from me. 


NEW DELHI (Sputnik) – The Indian army has said it has spotted giant footprints that supposedly belong to the mythical creature 'yeti' in the Himalayas.
Full Coverage 


In North American folklore, they are known as Bigfoot or Sasquatch. It is considered to be a large furry creature residing in the mountains. There have ...


However, in 2007, the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organisation had put forward some photos which they claimed showed a juvenile Bigfoot. Mumbai: ...


The 'Abominable snowman' or the 'Yeti' is believed to be an ape-like creature taller than an average primate and human being. While the creature's ...


In folklore, the Yeti, Bigfoot or Abominable Snowman is a huge creature which lives in the Himalayas, Siberia, Central and East Asia. The scientific ...


... sighting of the elusive, mythical beast, which is known by other names like "bigfoot" and "abominable snowman" in various parts of the world.
“There's been lots of research done on Bigfoot/Yeti (including sighting/footprints) with none proving its existence,” he added. “Seriously disappointing ... 
The yeti is the mysterious cousin of Bigfoot, both part of the same extremely elusive family. They are part human and part creature — the best of both ...

'Please be advised that the eyes appear to glow': Bigfoot-like sculpture alarms ... Bigfoot: still imaginary, probably not an undiscovered species of bear.
  
What's the Difference Between Yeti, Sasquatch and Bigfoot? Indian Army Claims it Found Mystery ... 
Newsweek 
You've heard the tale of the gargantuan creature that lives among the snowcapped mountains in the Himalayas—covered in thick white fur, a beastly ...
Yeti Footprints' Pictures Turn Into Funny Memes: Twitterati Have a Field Day Sharing Hilarious ... - LatestLY 
Full Coverage 

THE LAST WEEK AT THE CFZ-USA BLOG

CFZ-USA



  • CARTER'S CREATURE
  • IRKUIEM - MONSTROUS BEAR
  • SEA SERPENT IN THE ATLANTIC
  • NO MOUTH, NO GUT
  • HUMAN-ANIMAL HYBRIDS
  • BAT FAIRY
  • DO FAIRIES EXIST?
  • BIGFOOT WEARING SKULLS
  • YETI FOOTPRINTS IN HIMALAYAS?
  • WORLD WAR II: UFO SIGHTINGS NEAR SKINWALKER RANCH
  • IS THIS A BIGFOOT TRACK?
  • FAIRIES IN AMERICA
  • BIGFOOT ENCOUNTERS
  • BIGFOOT IN WASHINGTON STATE
  • BIGFOOT IN NEW MEXICO
  • BIGFOOT DNA
  • METAL-EATERS
  • CRAWFORDSVILLE MONSTER
  • HONEY ISLAND SWAMP MONSTER
  • VERMONT'S BENNINGTON TRIANGLE
  • TOXIC CATERPILLARS HIT LONDON
  • ARE ALIENS INTERBREEDING WITH HUMANS?
  • FAIRY PODCAST SERIES 1
  • A LOOK AT GNOMES
  • BIGFOOT NEAR TO HAND
  • LABYNKYR DEVIL
  • DON'T LET THE LAKOOMA CATCH YOU
  • HUMANOID OR HUGE GORILLA IN FRANCE
  • GLAUCOUS MACAW
  • ENCOUNTERS WITH UNSEEN REALM
  • ALIEN-LIKE CREATURE IN ANTARCTIC WATERS
  • WEIRD CREATURE ON DEVON BEACH
  • OLE RED EYE
  • FINNISH WEREWOLF REPORT
  • KETTLE MORAINE - A STRANGE PLACE
  • ANIMAL FACTS FROM NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
  • STALKED BY TELEPATHIC WEREWOLVES
  • THE JOHN KEEL DOUBLE
  • WILLIAM ROE'S BIGFOOT ENCOUNTER
  • SECRET AIRLINE OF AREA 51
  • DID ALLEGED TIME TRAVELER PHOTOGRAPH DINOSAUR?
  • HAWKESBURY RIVER MONSTER
  • NEW CRYPROZOOLOGY BOOK
  • ANT MAN - OR WAS IT A DREAM?
  • MAJOR RESPONSE TO UFO SIGHTINGS
  • MAMMOTH - NATIVE AMERICAN TRADITIONS
  • KNOCKERS - MINE SPIRITS
  • BIGFOOT'S CAVE
  • SCARY ENCOUNTER WITH NIGHT VISITORS
  • FEAR OF THE TOKOLOSHE
  • SWAMFISK
  • ELEPHANT POACHING STOPPED IN ZAMBIAN PARK
  • WERE THESE RAKES?



  • DEAD PIGS' BRAINS
  • NEWS FROM NOWHERE: Wednesday

    ON THIS DAY IN - 0408 - Theodosius II succeeded to the throne of Constantinople. 
    And now some more recent news from the CFZ Newsdesk


  • Climate change affecting fish in Ontario lakes
  • Eternal shell: Sacred turtle embalmed in Hanoi (Ra...
  • The recent spread of coyotes across North America ...
  • Wildlife tourism may negatively affect African ele...

  • Rabbits like to eat plants with lots of DNA


  • AND TO WHISTLE WHILE YOU WORK... (Music that may have some relevance to items also on this page, or may just reflect my mood on the day)