Bilk - no 008 - 1986 05

Magazine Overview

Title: ILK
Issue: NUMBER EIGHT
Date: May 1986
Editor: Ulrich Magin
Publisher: ILK
Country: Germany
Price: $ 5 or £3 or DM 15

This issue of ILK, a publication focused on unexplained phenomena and cryptozoology, presents a collection of intriguing reports from around the world. The cover features a poetic excerpt by Peter Hammill and highlights stories on sea monsters, mermaids, and other mysterious creatures.

BEHEMOTH: Sea Monsters

Loch Ness

The magazine reports on a German television station's broadcast on March 17, 1986, featuring a film by Jürgen Vanscheidt about a Loch Ness expedition by German scouts. The report claims that on July 23, 1984, the scout's ship was rammed and sunk by 'Nessie'. The following day, the monster was allegedly seen circling the ship, with frightened scouts visible on video. However, the article dismisses the footage as likely being a 'childish comedy' rather than a genuine documentary, noting that only obvious boat-wakes were visible.

Venezuela

An article from the German magazine GEO (April issue) details an expedition to Auyán Tepui, a rocky tower in the Venezuelan jungle. The expedition leader, Uwe George, met Alexander Laime, a British hermit who had previously explored the area. Laime recounted an encounter in 1955 where he saw three strange animals on the mountain's summit. These creatures were described as approximately 80 cm long, with 40 cm necks and 20 cm high bodies, exhibiting seal-like behavior. They possessed long necks, scaly bodies, reptilian heads, and four scaly flippers. Laime suggested they resembled prehistoric plesiosaurs, a conclusion supported by George, who noted that smaller saurians would have had a better chance of survival. The region's fauna is described as ancient, with the expedition discovering 'living fossils,' including a strange frog. A 1975 report from The London Times is also cited, mentioning a British expedition led by David Nott to a similar '4,500 ft rock tower' in the water-logged jungle of south-west Venezuela, reputed to be the home of a man-eating monster. The article suggests these locations might be identical.

Africa

The Wisconsin State Journal (November 25, 1985) reported on Herman Regusters and his 'Unicorne expedition,' which aimed to find a dinosaur in the Congo. This expedition, like others, has reportedly faced delays and requires an additional $20,000 for equipment. The article humorously suggests they might find what they are looking for closer to home, in Venezuela.

ISIS: Mermaids and Sea Cows

Black Sea

According to Soviet scientists, a mummy of a mermaid, approximately 3,000 years old, was discovered in a grave site near Sochi on the Black Sea. The creature measured 5 ft 9 in from head to tail and was believed to be over 100 years old when she died. The treasure buried with her suggests she was a revered member of her society, possibly a queen or goddess. This information was reportedly shared by Soviet scientist Dr. A.N. Yerimia and publicized by the National Enquirer. The article notes that while the story sounds like a hoax, ancient Middle Eastern mythology includes mermaid-like deities (Oannes, Ea, Isis), and malformed babies with fish-like tails have been born, which could lead to ceremonial burials in a mermaid-worshipping society.

Bahrein

Bahrain has implemented a ban on catching dugongs (sea cows) in its waters to protect the endangered sea mammals. A shoal of 300 to 500 dugongs has been observed east of Bahrain, according to a Reuter report.

KRAKEN: Giant Octopus

Italy

On March 5, a large octopus washed ashore in Sapri, in the Gulf of Policastro, Italy. Investigated by Professors Cesare Pifano and Antonietta Ciccarelli, the animal had a foul odor and was mutilated, but its eight arms were clearly visible. Reports from La Stampa, Corriere della Sera, and Die Rheinpfalz provided varying estimates of its size: "4 metres" for the body, with tentacles ranging from 10 to 20 meters long. The article suggests that if its span was 4 to 20 meters, it would rival the Bahamian Octopus giganteus verril, and refers readers to a previous article in Persuit for more information.

USOS: Unidentified Submerged Objects

Cook Islands

An Unidentified Submerged Object (USO) was spotted by a New Zealand Air Force Orion aircraft off the Cook Islands in early March. While the Air Force identified it, they did not disclose what it was. Anti-nuclear activist Owen Wilkes suggested it might be an American vessel posing as Soviet, stating that a 'Russian scare' in the South Pacific would be opportune for the United States. This report is attributed to Arab News (March 5, 1986).

OTHER STUFF

Australia

A 18-foot crocodile, referred to as a 'seamonster,' killed a female fisherman in North Australia. She was swimming only 8 feet from her boat, 'Kiama,' when attacked by giant jaws.

New Zealand

Two mass-strandings of whales near New Zealand were reported. The first was detailed in The Times (January 18, 1986). In February, approximately 100 whales from a group of 500 beached themselves.

Peru

Villagers at Chumunrani, near the Peru-Bolivia border, reportedly sacrificed a 37-year-old peasant farmer by hacking him to pieces as an offering to the floodwaters of Lake Titicaca. This report is cited from The Times (March 5, 1986) and La Stampa, with a reference to 'Costellc' for other sacrifices to lakes.

Paleontology

Kosmos magazine (Stuttgart, January 1986) featured a report by German paleontologist Professor Heinz Erben of Bonn. He discovered dinosaur bones in strata from the Tertiary period in France, New Mexico, and China, adding another piece to the puzzle of surviving dinosaurs.

Conclusion

The issue concludes with a note from the editor, thanking readers and soliciting news and views for the next issue, which is scheduled for July. The editor wishes readers a pleasant swimming season and advises them to 'look twice before you dive, somewhere down there is...'

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of ILK are cryptozoology (sea monsters, mermaids, dinosaurs), unidentified aerial and submerged objects (UFOs, USOs), and unexplained natural phenomena (whale strandings, unusual animal sightings). The editorial stance appears to be one of open reporting and dissemination of intriguing, often anecdotal, accounts from various sources, presented without strong endorsement but with a clear interest in the mysterious and unexplained. The editor encourages reader participation, suggesting a community-driven approach to collecting such reports.