What are Lake Monsters? Why do people throughout the world and in especial, across the northern hemisphere, claim to see them?
Are they extant examples of long-forgotten reptiles? If yes, then why are they so rarely seen? Is there a class of, as yet undiscovered, shy gorgon amphibians, cleaving to the nethermost regions of our deep and unmapped meres; or, does a giant eel, whose anatomy is so beyond the pale and scale of every known species of its genus, somehow personify a prehistoric tribute to the past? Who knows? What is known, is that this particular cryptozoological archetype is one which finds corroboration in the ancient and modern accounts of the world's nations.
Whilst the golden age of Lake Monster hunting ended long ago, there are still small pockets of devoted souls, thinly spread across the globe, to whom the weary wait along the water’s edge still holds the promise of detection and discovery.
My first trip to Loch Ness (photo by Nily Ron)
Whilst the golden age of Lake Monster hunting ended long ago, there are still small pockets of devoted souls, thinly spread across the globe, to whom the weary wait along the water’s edge still holds the promise of detection and discovery.
These delightfully dedicated and sometimes self-deluded watchers are our sacrificial lambs; stationed along the front lines and absorbing the blows of mockery and social mastication! In so doing, their endless hours of watching and decades-long investigations, provide us with a real- time log of sightings and topographical changes to these phenomena; enabling researchers and sceptics alike, to objectively dissect the hard-won data they have succored on our behalf.
When it comes to the media, many cryptozoologists have an uncomfortable, ‘hand in glove’ relationship, that both benefits; by providing much-needed attention to the field and degrades; through the inevitable sensationalism and obfuscation of the ‘facts’, to fill the theatre, so to speak! This uneasy alliance has been in place since the early days of the hunt for the Loch Ness Monster and has understandably encouraged some less than savoury characters, to enter this arena, for perceived short term financial gains.
When it comes to the media, many cryptozoologists have an uncomfortable, ‘hand in glove’ relationship, that both benefits; by providing much-needed attention to the field and degrades; through the inevitable sensationalism and obfuscation of the ‘facts’, to fill the theatre, so to speak! This uneasy alliance has been in place since the early days of the hunt for the Loch Ness Monster and has understandably encouraged some less than savoury characters, to enter this arena, for perceived short term financial gains.
Since those early days, however, we have seen many changes to the way in which information, and in especial, entertainment has been disseminated. More recently, the advent of social media has had an enormous impact on the field; initially removing the theatrical bias of the corporate media giants and opening up the genre to untainted research, directly from researchers on the ground. But, sadly, this new leveling of the playing field too has succumbed to the mechanism of melodrama and an unending aspiration to obtain, likes, shares and subs, that has been seemingly forced upon the faithful as a means of survival in this current epoch - the age of connectivity!
Where to go from here? Is there any direction left within which to search for those undiscovered and elusive animals that continue to evade us? I’d say a resounding yes! Indeed! More than ever before, the tools and information one needs to embark upon such a hunt are gamely available, priced for the masses and ready to be delivered to your door.
Where to go from here? Is there any direction left within which to search for those undiscovered and elusive animals that continue to evade us? I’d say a resounding yes! Indeed! More than ever before, the tools and information one needs to embark upon such a hunt are gamely available, priced for the masses and ready to be delivered to your door.
So, you might reasonably ask yourself – "what am I waiting for?"
Written by Andrew McGrath
Written by Andrew McGrath
Excerpt for my forthcoming book - Beasts of the World (Vol.2) Water Monsters
For my: Books; Merch; Podcasts; Conferences & Expeditions, check out - https://linktr.ee/beastsof
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