Cryptozoology Newsletter - Vol 1 No 2 - 1994

Magazine Overview

Title: CRYPTOZOOLOGY NEWSLETTER
Issue: Vol. 1, No. 2
Date: May 1994
Editor: Matthew A. Bille
Price: $2.00

This issue of the Cryptozoology Newsletter focuses on new animal discoveries and the ongoing investigation into creatures previously considered mythical or extinct. The publication aims to bring scientific rigor to the study of cryptozoology.

New Species of the Month: The Vu Quang Oryx

The lead article introduces the Vu Quang oryx, a large mammal discovered in 1992 in a remote region of Vietnam near the Laotian border by a World Wildlife Fund team. Although called an oryx, it is not technically one. Dr. Jack MacKinnon and his Vietnamese counterparts initially struggled to classify it, with local hunters referring to it as the "forest goat" or "mountain goat." Based on long-horned skulls, MacKinnon initially suspected a relation to the anoa, a dwarf buffalo. The animal has since been given its own genus, *Pseudoryx nghetinhensis*, with DNA analysis placing it near the base of the bovid family, close to oxen. The Vu Quang oryx is described as reddish-brown or dark brown with a darker stripe down its back and white markings on its head. Adults are about three feet high at the shoulder and may weigh 200 pounds, though no live specimens or whole carcasses have been studied. The finding is celebrated as a rare event in zoology, and the article expresses hope for the protection of the species in the Vu Quang Nature Reserve.

Whatever Happened To...The Thylacine

This section explores the fate of the thylacine, also known as the Tasmanian wolf or tiger. The marsupial predator, resembling a slender, dark-striped greyhound, was native to Australia and Tasmania. While feral dogs contributed to its decline in mainland Australia, sheep farmers in Tasmania placed a bounty on its head. The last wild kill was recorded in 1931, and a zoo specimen died in 1936. Despite these dates, Eric Guiler, former head of Tasmania's wildlife protection board, believes the species may still exist, citing 64 sightings since 1936, along with footprints, calls, and evidence of its distinctive feeding habit (eating only internal organs). The article recounts a reported killing of a male thylacine in 1961, with its body allegedly disposed of at sea. Interest was renewed in 1982 when a park ranger reported seeing one, and in 1984, a tracker named Kevin Cameron photographed what appeared to be a thylacine in Western Australia, though the authenticity of these photos is debated. Definitive proof remains elusive, but the evidence offers hope for its survival.

Unclassified: The Onza

This segment discusses the "onza," a creature reported in the Sierra Madre Occidental region of western Mexico, alongside pumas and jaguars. Local reports date back to the Spanish conquest. In 1937, hunting guide Dale Lee and his client Joseph Shirk captured a feline described as slender, long-eared, and differing from any known cat. J. B. Tinsley's book *The Puma* reproduced photos of this cat and another killed in 1926. Shirk's trophy skull is considered the first hard evidence of the onza. The creature is described as resembling a puma built along cheetah lines, with abnormally long legs and a slender body. An adult female weighed under 60 pounds. It had unusually long ears and unique dark horizontal stripes on the insides of its front legs. Dr. Troy Best and zoologist J. Richard Greenwell believe the evidence points to a new puma subspecies. However, more specimens, preferably live ones, are needed to confirm a unique breeding population. The article notes the difficulty in comparing the onza to panther specimens from the region, but cryptozoologists are encouraged that a "mythical" animal may now be a reality.

News and Comment

This section provides brief updates on various cryptozoological and zoological news:

• Tonkin snub-nosed monkey: This primate, presumed extinct for ten years, was rediscovered in Vietnam in 1992 during an IUCN/WWF survey. There are concerns that the unprotected species is at risk of extinction.
• Coelacanth study: The article questions whether the coelacanth is being over-studied. Since its discovery in 1938, it has been heavily pursued, with modern technology leading to an annual catch rate significantly higher than historical levels.
• Coelacanth mystery: A report from 1953 in *Science News Letter* is mentioned, detailing Dr. Isaac Ginsburg's investigation of a strange fish scale found in Florida, believed to be from a coelacanth or an unclassified relative, but originating from the Gulf of Mexico. The fisherman who sold the scales was never found.
• New freshwater and marine species: It is estimated that only half of marine fish have been catalogued, with new species continually being discovered. One issue of the journal *Copeia* (1993, No. 3) listed 17 new species from both fresh and saltwater environments.
• Loch Ness submersible tours: A tour company is offering submersible trips into Loch Ness. The article questions whether tourists are informed about the poor visibility in the loch and suggests that if the hypothesized fish-eating mammal exists, it would likely use sonar, which could be detected by hydrophone surveys.
• Unclassified tree kangaroo: Science still lacks a specimen of an unclassified black-and-white tree kangaroo photographed in Indonesia in 1992. It is noted that Scott's tree kangaroo, described in 1985, may not be the only such species.

Resources

The newsletter lists several books and articles relevant to the topics discussed:

• *Kangaroos: the Marvelous Mob* by Terry Domico (1993)
• *Living Fossil: The Story of the Coelacanth* by Keith S. Thomson (1991)

Periodicals of Interest

This section lists recent articles from various publications:

• A profile of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute and its discoveries (USA Today, 1994).
• The rediscovery of Salim Ali's fruit bat (*Latidens salimalii*) (Oryx, 1993).
• An unsuccessful Japanese expedition searching for legendary animals in Lake Champlain (USA Today, 1993).
• Description of a new species of hummingbird, possibly extinct (*Sunangel*), from Bogota (The Auk, 1992).
• Oceanographer Paul LeBlond's investigations of reported unidentified aquatic animals off the U.S./Canadian Northwest (Oceans, 1987).

In Closing

The International Society of Cryptozoology (ISC) is promoted as a "must-join" organization for those interested in new animals and the rediscovery of "extinct" forms. The ISC sponsors conferences and publishes a newsletter and a scientific journal, emphasizing scientific rigor and respect for the field without taking a position on the existence of alleged animals. Contact information for the Secretary, J. Richard Greenwell, is provided. The editor, Matthew A. Bille, also reports that his book, *Rumors of Existence*, covering animals discovered since the 1930s, rediscovered extinct animals, and unknown animals with hard evidence or qualified sightings, is scheduled for publication in spring 1995, with illustrations by Craig Gosling. Comments for the newsletter can be sent to the editor's address in Kokomo, Indiana.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently highlights the excitement of discovering new species and the potential for rediscovering animals thought to be extinct. It emphasizes the importance of scientific investigation and evidence, even when dealing with subjects that may seem mythical. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry, encouraging the application of scientific methods to cryptozoological subjects, as exemplified by the promotion of the International Society of Cryptozoology. The publication serves as a platform for sharing recent findings, ongoing research, and relevant literature in the field of cryptozoology.