CRYPTOZOOLOGY

Many people mistakenly confuse cryptozoology with the study of mythological creatures. In fact it is a completely different science, being a variant of the more traditional zoology. The word cryptozoology literally means "the study of hidden animals".

Cryptozoology has no interest in unreal creatures. Instead it is the study of living creatures that might exist now or have existed once but are not yet known formally. These potential creatures are known as cryptids.

Cryptozoologists are not interested in fantasy stories except when they contain clues as to the possible nature of a real creature. For a creature to be classed as a cryptid there must be at least some evidence for its existence. This evidence will often be anecdotal, for example folklore and individual sightings. The stronger the evidence, the more likely the cryptid is to exist and the more interesting it is to a cryptozoology researcher.

Do Cryptids Exist?

A good cryptozoologist will accept that not all cryptids actually exist. Some will simply be myths, the sightings a combination of story-telling, exaggeration and honest error. A good cryptozoologist will not set out to prove that a creature does exist, instead they will set out to prove whether or not it exists.

A cryptid does not have to be a "monster". Many of the most interesting and scientifically verified cryptozoological discoveries have been new species of existing creatures or creatures living in unexpected places/times.

LOCAL REPORTS:

Crocodile

Location: Congleton - Old quarry

Type: Cryptozoology

Date / Time: 1995

Further Comments: A lizard-like creature just under a metre in length was seen by several users of this quarry when it was converted to a water sports centre.

More information can be found at the following sites:

The Centre for Fortean Zoology :- http://www.cfz.org.uk

Big Cats in Britain :- http://www.scottishbigcats.co.uk

Beastwatch UK :- www.beastwatch.co.uk

Examples of Cryptids:- Mysterious Creatures That Might Exist.

Alien Big Cats (ABCs)

In the UK there are frequent reports of big cats living wild

http://maxpages.com/maxpage.cgi?site=upia&0=1&act=p&pg=ALIEN+BIG+CATS

The Loch Ness Monster

Affectionately known as "Nessie"

http://www.lochness.co.uk/

Bigfoot / Sasquatch

North American / Canadian man-beast

http://www.bfro.net/

Bunyip

Aboriginal creature which originated in the Dreamtime

http://skepdic.com/bunyips.html

Chupacabra

The "goat sucker"

http://www.elchupacabra.com/

The Skunk Ape

Florida's ape-man

http://www.floridaskunkape.com/

Tsuchinoko

A Japanese snake

http://www.farshores.org/c04snake.htm

The Wendigo

Possibly a relative of Bigfoot

http://www.prairieghosts.com/wendigo.html

The Jackalope

Horned Warrior Rabbit

http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-jac2.htm

The Jersey Devil

Mythical monster

http://theshadowlands.net/jd.htm