Cryptozoology Newsletter - Vol 1 No 5 - 1994

Magazine Overview

This issue of the Cryptozoology Newsletter, Volume 1, Number 5, dated September/October 1994, edited by Matthew A. Bille, focuses on recent discoveries in zoology and conservation efforts. The cover headline highlights "NEW SPECIES OF THE MONTH: THE VU QUANG DISCOVERIES."

The Vu Quang Discoveries

The lead article details the remarkable zoological finds in the Vu Quang region of Vietnam, near the Laotian border. Following the 1992 discovery of the Vu Quang ox (Pseudoryx nghentinhensis), evidence of at least three more sizable new mammals has been collected, described as an unprecedented "gold rush" of zoological discoveries.

Dr. John MacKinnon of the World Wide Fund for Nature, during a March 1994 expedition, was shown skulls of a previously unknown type of muntjac, a small Asian deer. This new species, tentatively named the "giant muntjac," was distinguished by its larger skull and different horn structure, with an estimated weight of 50 kilograms, twice that of a common muntjac. Despite their vegetarian diet, muntjacs possess large canine teeth, which appeared even more prominent in the discovered skulls. However, Alan Rabinowitz of the Wildlife Conservation Society clarified that in living animals, these teeth are not as noticeable and are not visible when the mouth is closed.

The Wildlife Conservation Society researchers were the first Westerners to observe a live giant muntjac in a private menagerie in Laos. Dr. MacKinnon proposes a new genus for this animal, naming it Megamuntiacus vuquangensis, which would be the fifth new genus of large mammal described this century.

Further discoveries from the mountainous area north of Vu Quang include skulls of an animal locally known as the "slow-running deer" or "slow-moving deer," characterized by short, sharp antlers. Another set of antlers collected by MacKinnon may belong to an animal known as the "mangden," or "black deer."

More information is provided about the Vu Quang ox, with a live female calf, approximately four to five months old, caught in 1994. It stood 61 cm high at the shoulder and weighed 18 kg. Its local name, "sao la" (weaving spindle), refers to its twisting horns. The specimen was found in the Khe Tre forest, near the Vu Quang Nature Reserve. A late note mentions the capture of a second ox, a male.

Dr. MacKinnon suggests these discoveries indicate that similarly unexplored regions globally could yield more large animal finds.

Whatever Happened To... The Black-Footed Ferret

This section reports on the apparent success story of the black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes), an elusive North American mammal. Declared extinct multiple times, it has resurfaced. The ferret, a small nocturnal predator about eighteen inches long, is brown with a black mask around its eyes.

Human eradication of prairie dogs, the ferret's primary prey, led to its presumed extinction by the 1950s. A ferret was first rediscovered in Mellette County, Wyoming, in 1964, with 21 individuals counted, but they vanished again by 1974.

In 1981, the ferret was rediscovered in Wyoming. A subsequent scientific effort involved trapping, radio-collaring, and studying every ferret found. The population was later decimated by distemper, leading to a captive breeding program involving 18 animals. This approach was controversial, with some conservationists viewing it as a necessary step and others as sacrilege.

The program has since resulted in over 300 captive animals. In 1990, 49 ferrets were released into the wild in Wyoming. Six were spotted in 1992, and a captive colony in Colorado Springs' Cheyenne Mountain Zoo sent six more to Wyoming in September 1994. Despite a high mortality rate among the released ferrets (estimated at 85% of the 180 released), the species is considered to be making a comeback.

Unclassified: The Mystery Whales

This section explores various reports of unidentified whale and dolphin species.

• Peruvian Beaked Whale: The last whale scientifically described was the Peruvian beaked whale (Mesoplodon peruvians) in 1991.

• High Dorsal Fin Whale: Naturalist Robert Sibbald described a 60-foot whale with a high dorsal fin in 1692, named Physeter tursio. This differs from the known sperm whale, which has only a ridge instead of a true dorsal fin.

• Two Dorsal Fin Whale: In 1867, Italian naturalist Enrico Giglioli reported a large baleen whale with two dorsal fins off the coast of Chile, describing it as "gray greenish" with a greyish white underside. This whale was named Amphiptera pacifica. Similar sightings were reported off Scotland in 1898 and in the Mediterranean in 1983.

• Beaked Whales (North Atlantic): Philip Gosse observed a school of 30-foot beaked whales in the North Atlantic for twelve hours. These whales were black on top and white below, with all-white pectoral fins. Their unusual behavior of remaining in sight for extended periods is noted.

• Strange Beaked Whale (Eastern Pacific): A whale spotted several times in the eastern Pacific, recently photographed off Mexico, is about sixteen feet long with a flattened head and a low, wide-based dorsal fin. Larger individuals are black with light-colored "racing stripes," while smaller ones are uniformly bronze or grayish-brown. This may be the Indopacific beaked whale (Indopacetus pacificus) or something new.

• Orca-like Whale (Antarctic): Antarctic explorers, including Sir James Ross, described a mystery whale the size of a large orca but with a strikingly tall, slender dorsal fin. Explorer Edward A. Wilson sketched such an animal in 1902. These whales were observed again in 1911, and a similar unidentified whale was photographed off Chile in 1964.

• New Orcas (Antarctic): In 1981 and 1983, Russian mammologists described two new species of orcas from the Antarctic, Orcinus nanus and Orcinus glacialis. These may be the same animals, appearing yellowish rather than white underneath and smaller than standard Orcinus orca. Some experts attribute the color variation to diatom film.

• "Alula Whale" (Gulf of Aden): Sea captain Willem F. J. Morzer Bruyuns reported observing what looked like a solid brown orca speckled with star-shaped white scars. Bruyuns' twenty-foot "Alula whale" had a less streamlined appearance and a higher, more rounded forehead than a normal orca. Up to four were seen north of Alula in Africa's Gulf of Aden.

• Striped Dolphin Variant (Senegal): Bruyuns encountered a shorter, stouter version of the striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) with no definitive black markings. Off Senegal, he saw brown and white dolphins about six feet long, resembling the bridled dolphin or Atlantic spotted dolphin, but lacking characteristic markings.

• "Illigan Dolphin" (Philippines): Bruyuns described a strikingly colored dolphin, brown with a pink underside and yellow flanks, seen off the Philippines in schools of up to 30 animals. It resembled the melon-headed whale (Peponocephala electra) in size and shape but differed significantly in color.

• Bottlenosed Dolphin Variant (Indian Ocean): Bruyuns encountered a seven-foot dolphin with a longer, thinner snout than the Indian Ocean bottlenosed dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Its silver-gray color was broken by dark patches and lighter gray skin.

• Small, Stout Porpoises (Chile): Researchers in 1964 reported schools of "small, stout porpoises" about four feet long, brown on top and white beneath, off Chile. This sounds like the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), which is typically found only in the North Atlantic.

The article concludes that while not all reports represent new species, some likely do, and time will tell which ones.

News and Comment

• Jamaican Iguana: The Jamaican iguana (Cyclura collei), presumed extinct for 40 years, has resurfaced. A handful have been sent to U.S. zoos for captive breeding. The rediscovery was credited to a dog that retrieved a live specimen. The total population is estimated at under a hundred individuals, threatened by introduced predators.

• Cuban Ground Iguana: A rare specimen of the Cuban ground iguana (Cyclura nubila) was photographed for a book, and it bit the editor on the chin.

• New Tree Kangaroo: A new tree kangaroo has been confirmed from New Guinea. Discovered by Tim Flannery, this primitive animal spends much of its time on the ground. It is black with a white chest and other white markings, shows no fear of people, and emits a whistling call. A formal description and scientific name are pending.

• Cougar Sighting (Vermont): The Fish and Wildlife Department of Vermont confirmed a sighting of three cougars. Their origin is unknown, and the Eastern cougar was thought to be extinct in the region by the mid-20th century.

Resources

This section lists several books and periodicals relevant to cryptozoology and zoology:

• Books:
• *A Field Guide to Whales, Porpoises, and Seals from Cape Cod to Newfoundland* by Steven K. Katona et al. (1993): A detailed guide with over 200 photographs, useful for sea-creature sightings but not cryptozoological.
• *Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises of the Western North Atlantic* by Leatherwood, Stephen, et al. (1976): A source for sea creature photos.

• Periodicals:
• "You Really Call This Living?" by Bruce Gain (1994) in OMNI: About a Romanian cave ecosystem.
• "Featured Feline: Iriomote Cat" by Carol Ann George (1994) in Cat Tales: Status of the critically endangered Iriomote cat.
• "Mystery Mammals" by Joyce Gramza (1994) in Popular Science: A brief roundup on the Vu Quang ox and other mammals.
• "Status of the Tigers of the World" by Peter Jackson (1993) in CBSG News: Updates on tiger subspecies, listing Caspian and Bali tigers as extinct.

In Closing

The editor encourages serious researchers to join the International Society of Cryptozoology (ISC). The newsletter is not an official ISC publication. The editor welcomes comments, corrections, and clippings, and provides an address in Kokomo, IN, noting it will change soon. Copyright 1994 by Matthew A. Bille, with permission granted for educational or nonprofit duplication.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently focuses on the discovery of new or poorly understood animal species, often referred to as "cryptids" or "mystery animals." There is a strong emphasis on cryptozoology as a legitimate area of scientific inquiry, encouraging researchers to join organizations like the ISC. Conservation efforts for endangered or rediscovered species, such as the black-footed ferret and Jamaican iguana, are highlighted as important successes. The editorial stance is one of curiosity, open-mindedness towards unusual reports, and a commitment to documenting and sharing information within the cryptozoological community. The editor, Matthew A. Bille, actively seeks contributions and corrections, indicating a collaborative approach to the field.