BILK

Magazine Overview

This issue of BILK, number 60, published in July 1994, is a German magazine focused on fortean phenomena, cryptozoology, and unusual reports. It is published by Ulrich Magin from Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany, with subscription prices of DM 15 for Europe and DM 20 for the rest of the world.

Behemoth

The "BEHEMOTH" section leads with a report from England's Lake District in early 1994, where a friend of the author heard about a monster seen in Lake Windermere. A clipping from the Evening Mail refers to the "Tizzie Wizzie" or "strange beast" on the shores of Lake Windermere, described as allegedly a cross between a hedgehog and a squirrel with wings, and taken seriously. The author notes this reminds them of stories of cats with wings and is not related to lake monster reports.

A "living dinosaur" report comes from Famagusta, Cyprus, from Sonntag Aktuell. Witnesses heard strange sounds near the old city wall, leading to speculation. The Islamic cleric Sheik Kibrisi thought it was the roar of a dragon guarding the king's palace, while Raul Denktasch, leader of the Turkish part of Cyprus, suggested the sounds were from owls nesting in the city walls. The article highlights how fortean phenomena are interpreted rationally or irrationally based on the interpreter's worldview.

Another report details a new sighting of the "Loch Ness thing" from the Highland News. On April 10, a local couple saw an "extremely large object" in Urquhart Bay, about 200 yards away. They observed two brown shapes, about 10 ft in diameter and 3 ft apart. The female witness described it as an animal, with a pale brownish color, and a large dark shadow. The couple returned to Urquhart Castle and saw the wake heading to the other side of the loch. The article notes that passengers on a pleasure boat in the bay did not seem to notice the beast, suggesting a possible explanation involving boat wakes, though this would not apply if the boat was anchored.

The "Behemoth bibliography" section references giant serpents in deep Siberia and a review of a new book on an expedition for Mokele-mbembe, the alleged African dinosaur.

ISIS

The "ISIS" section includes a bibliography entry for a "Hongkong mermaid rumor" from Fortean Times, mentioning the Fijian president being a descendant of the shark god Dakuwaqa. An article by Fred Olen Ray discusses the "aligator man," which is identified as a stuffed fake creature.

A headline from the German publication Neue Spezial, "Boy is turning into merman," is discussed. The report, which the staff of Neue Spezial admit is fabricated, details a 12-year-old boy, Michael Hofer, who allegedly grew fins on his head and under his arms. The article invents a biologist, Dr. Klaus Dreyer, who comments on a similar case. The boy is considering surgery, fearing the fins will grow back faster.

LEVIATHAN

The "LEVIATHAN" section notes that a sea serpent caught off Hartlepool in March 1866, identified as an oarfish, can still be seen stuffed in a local museum.

DISCOVERIES/CRYPTOZOOLOGY

This section covers several distinct reports:

• Chinese psychics' quest for yeti: Mentions Chinese yeti sightings in Süddeutsche Zeitung and NEUE SPEZIAL, with the latter article seemingly based on factual reports.
• Tonkin monkeys: Noel Rowe, president of the Vietnam Society for the Protection of Monkeys, discovered 25 Tonkin monkeys near Hanoi, a species previously thought extinct.
• Giant sloth in Brasil: Reports a sighting of a giant sloth in Brasil from various newspapers.

MARINE LIFE

Several marine life incidents are detailed:

• Stranded whale: A 20m fin whale stranded at Cape Gris-Nez, France, with an attempt by a larger whale to protect it.
• Whale eaten by locals: A whale stranded in the Philippines was later eaten by locals.
• Minke whale in Loch Grimshader: A 20ft minke whale spent six months in a Scottish sea loch before leaving.
• Human remains in shark: The remains of Richard Bistley were found in the stomach of a 2.5m tiger shark caught in Australia.
• Shark threat in Hongkong: The Hongkong government planned to hire "head hunters" to track and kill sharks due to a growing threat, though the article questions the necessity given low annual fatalities.
• Fatal shark attack: A white shark killed a female bather at Sunset Cliffs, California; the shark was 3.6m in length.

USO

A new German UFO magazine, UFO-KURIER, has been launched, described as being along the lines of CUFOS and featuring topics like abductions and US-alien deals, with contributions from Bill Moore and Graham Birdsall. An article by Jorge Martín discusses a secret contract between the US army and abducting aliens, with a base possibly located under Laguna Cartagena in Puerto Rico. The article mentions strange lights and earth tremors, but suggests many sightings can be dismissed as misperceptions due to military installations in the region. The creatures described are referred to as "breys" from abduction folklore.

A note mentions that a picture to the left is a line drawing based on a "fish-boy" photographed in the NEUE SPEZIAL.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of BILK consistently explores the fringes of reported phenomena, from alleged cryptid sightings like the "Behemoth" and "Tizzie Wizzie" to the more sensationalized "merman" and "aligator man" stories. The magazine appears to present these reports with a degree of skepticism, as seen in the Famagusta interpretation and the questioning of the Hongkong shark threat. It also acknowledges the fabricated nature of some reports, such as the "merman" boy. The inclusion of UFO reports and the discussion of their interpretations suggest an editorial stance that is open to unusual claims while also encouraging critical analysis and considering rational explanations. The magazine acts as a compendium of strange news, drawing from various international sources and publications.