Exotic Zoology - Vol 3 No 1 - 1996

Magazine Overview

Title: EXOTIC ZOOLOGY
Issue: Vol. 3, #1
Date: January/February 1996
Editor: Matthew A. Bille

This issue of Exotic Zoology, a bimonthly magazine of cryptozoology, delves into recent discoveries and ongoing mysteries surrounding unusual animals.

Recent Discoveries: The Unknown Horses

The lead article explores the cryptozoological interest in horses, highlighting at least four types of particular significance. It details the discovery of two new horse breeds in the last three years. The Nangchen horse, found in Tibet in 1933 by French explorer Dr. Michel Peissel, is described as large and powerful, with reportedly enlarged heart and lungs for high altitudes. Peissel revisited the region in 1995 and discovered another new horse near Riwoche. This Riwoche horse is described as pony-sized, resembling a donkey with small ears, a rough coat, a black stripe down its back, stripes on its back legs, and a black mane. Dr. Ignasi Casas, a veterinarian on the team, noted its primitive and tough appearance and collected blood samples for DNA analysis. The article speculates that the Riwoche horse may represent a link between the last true wild equine, Przewalski's horse, and more modern breeds. Przewalski's horse itself is discussed, noting its small size, brownish-yellow-gray color, paler underside, and similar black stripe and erect mane to the Riwoche horse. A herd of Przewalski's horses has been released in Mongolia, though occasional reports suggest a few may still survive along the Chinese-Mongolian border. The issue also covers the alleged revival of the tarpan, Europe's extinct wild horse, through a 'back-breeding' program by German zookeepers Lutz and Heinz Heck in the 1930s. The article questions whether these animals are truly tarpans or merely replicas, likening the experiment to a real-life Jurassic Park.

Mystery Animals: The Strangest Elephant

Authored by Ben S. Roesch, this section reports on British explorer Sir John Blashford-Snell's search for 'giant elephants' in Nepal in 1992. Two such bulls were observed and photographed, estimated to have footprints of 22.5 inches and a shoulder height of 11 feet 3 inches, surpassing the size of the largest recorded Asian elephant. Striking features included two large domes on their foreheads and a distinctive nasal bridge, characteristic of the extinct Stegodonts, which apparently died out over a million years ago. While the Stegodont theory is considered romantic, cryptozoologists like Dr. Karl Shuker favor the explanation that these are mutant versions of the normal Asian elephant, possibly due to interbreeding in an isolated valley. The article suggests these creatures warrant further investigation as potential examples of evolution in progress.

Reader Response

This section features a response from Dr. Paul LeBlond regarding a review of his book 'Cadborosaurus: Survivor from the Deep'. LeBlond defends the authors' decision to classify the alleged 'sea monster' as a reptile and assign it a specific name, stating that in scientific discussion, one can be 'a little bolder'. He also shares an issue of 'The Newsletter of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club', of which he is acting president, detailing its contents on 'Caddy' sightings, Sasquatch activities, and new animal reports. Additionally, the newsletter of the Society for the Protection of Old Fishes (SPOOF), dedicated to coelacanth study, is mentioned.

News and Comment

This section announces the discovery of a new phylum in the animal kingdom called Cycliophora, represented by the creature Symbion pandora. This animal, found on lobsters, is described as a bizarre creature about the size of a dot on the letter 'i', with a unique digestive system and a peculiar reproductive method involving a 'dwarf male'. Dr. Simon Morris of Cambridge University calls it the 'zoological highlight of the decade'. The section also mentions the 'mapinguary', sought in the Amazon by ornithologist David Oren, as a potential surviving type of ground sloth.

Resources

• The magazine provides a list of books and periodicals relevant to cryptozoology and natural history. Books reviewed include:
• 'Rarest of the Rare' by Diane Ackerman, focusing on endangered animals and the short-tailed albatross.
• 'Where Bigfoot Walks' by Robert Michael Pyle, an exploration of the Bigfoot myth and reality.
• 'In Search of Prehistoric Survivors' by Karl P.N. Shuker, a comprehensive work on reported undiscovered animals, including the Australian marsupial tiger.
• 'The Tribe of Tiger' by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, a speculative look at cats, mentioning the 'extinct' Eastern cougar.

• Periodicals mentioned include:
• 'Calls of the Wild' in Natural History, reporting on new species of African primates.
• 'Quest for the Kouprey' in International Wildlife, about Southeast Asia's critically endangered wild ox.
• 'The Florida Globster - Verilly, a mystery' in Wild About Animals, recapping the Octopus Giganteus controversy.

New Service: Subscriber Directory

Exotic Zoology announces plans to publish a subscriber directory in the May/June 1996 issue, allowing members to exchange information on new, rediscovered, and unknown animals. Readers are invited to fill out a form by April 1, 1996, to be included.

Editor's Page

The editor, Matthew A. Bille, clarifies the purpose of Exotic Zoology: to promote cryptozoology as a scientific subspecialty focused on evidence-based discovery of new or extinct species, distinguishing it from sensationalized accounts. He encourages readers to join the International Society of Cryptozoology. Subscription details and contact information for the magazine are provided. The editor also mentions his new book, 'Rumors of Existence', about new, rediscovered, and unconfirmed animals.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the discovery and study of unknown or potentially extinct animal species, emphasizing a scientific approach to cryptozoology. The editorial stance, as expressed by Matthew A. Bille, is to uphold the integrity of cryptozoology as a legitimate scientific pursuit, distinct from sensationalism. The magazine actively seeks to share information among its readers and encourages engagement with scientific societies dedicated to the study of unusual fauna.