Exotic Zoology - Vol 3 No 5 - 1996

Magazine Overview

Title: EXOTIC ZOOLOGY
Issue: Vol. 3., #5
Date: Sept/Oct 1996
Editor: Matthew A. Bille

This issue of Exotic Zoology, a bimonthly magazine of cryptozoology, focuses on "Rediscoveries" and "Mystery Animals," featuring articles on the woolly squirrel, giant elephants in Nepal, and the enduring mystery of the yeti.

Rediscoveries: Search for the Woolly Squirrel

The lead article details the remarkable rediscovery of the woolly flying squirrel (Eupetaurus cinereus), a creature previously thought to be extinct. This squirrel, native to the Himalayas, is notable for being the largest squirrel of any kind in the world, potentially reaching four feet in length with a two-foot tail. Discovered in 1888, it had all but vanished, with only one specimen ever kept in captivity and few reaching museums. By the 1990s, it was widely considered extinct.

The imagination of Peter Zahler, a New York writer and conservationist, was sparked by an item in "Walker's Mammals of the World." At his own expense, Zahler and his friend Chantal Dietemann traveled to Pakistan in 1992, spending two fruitless months searching. Undeterred, Zahler secured a World Wide Fund for Nature grant and returned in 1994. Near the end of this second expedition, Dietemann found a crucial clue: a squirrel's front leg, likely dropped by a predator. This led to local men who, after Zahler's initial skepticism, produced a live woolly squirrel six hours later. Zahler was stunned, finally exclaiming, "It's a woolly flying squirrel." The Americans examined and photographed the creature before releasing it. Mammologist Charles Woods expressed astonishment, noting that his team had extensively searched the area without success.

The article further explains the squirrel's elusive nature, suggesting its habitat among caves and boulders, rather than trees, contributes to its ability to disappear. Its appearance is described as unusual, with a body and crouching posture resembling a gray raccoon, and a long, foxlike tail. Adults typically weigh between 6 to 7 pounds (3kg). Zahler returned to Pakistan again in 1995, capturing and releasing another squirrel, and hopes to return to radio-collar specimens to study their habits. Little is known about their diet, with some sources suggesting lichens and moss, while Zahler believes they eat spruce buds, which would explain why conventional bait failed.

Zahler's ultimate goal is to secure official protection for the animal, which currently lacks sufficient data for inclusion in the IUCN's Red Data Book. The species is believed to inhabit a limited region north of Gilgit, Pakistan, possibly in isolated populations.

Mystery Animals: Bardia's Giant Elephants

This section revisits the story of unusual elephants reported from Bardia National Park in northern Nepal. Colonel John Blashford-Snell photographed what appeared to be Asian elephants (Elephas maximas) with two distinct domes on their heads and strange nasal bridges, reminiscent of extinct elephants called stegodonts.

Clinton Keeling, a cryptozoologist, suggested that claims of "living fossils" might be overblown. However, a review of available literature revealed that while domes on the skull and nasal bridges have been observed on older Asian elephants and captive specimens, no precedent exists for an entire group exhibiting all three characteristics (domes, nasal bridge, and immense size). These giant elephants are estimated to be 13 feet (4m) high, significantly larger than the usual maximum of 11 feet (3.3m) for the species.

A follow-up expedition in May 1996, led by Blashford-Snell, collected more film and dung samples. Preliminary DNA analysis of the dung suggests the animals are indeed members of E. maximas, but possibly a very distinct race, perhaps meriting subspecific rank (E. maximas bardia). The population is estimated at around 100.

The article concludes that this discovery, regardless of its taxonomic status, is significant as it highlights a completely overlooked population of large mammals, lending support to the idea that other such discoveries may await in unexplored regions.

Mystery Animals: Is the Yeti Still Out There?

This article examines the current status of the yeti, or "abominable snowman," a cryptozoological icon that has seen declining interest. While evidence for sasquatch (North America's Bigfoot) has seemingly grown with more sightings and alleged films, the yeti's evidence remains scarce despite its habitat in remote, high-altitude Himalayan valleys.

Past evidence, such as alleged yeti "scalps" and "hands," has been proven to be imitations or from known animals, with one possible exception. Local traditions are difficult for Western scientists to evaluate. Western sightings are rare, with only two undisputed accounts by N. A. Tombazi (1925) and Don Whillans (1970), both involving distant glimpses of ape-like creatures.

The most significant physical evidence is a dessicated hand formerly kept at Pangboche monastery, which was reportedly stolen. Yeti-hunter Peter Byrne claims to have stolen parts of this hand in 1959, with tests allegedly identifying it as primate but not human. Photographs of the hand show it to be broad, possibly Neanderthal. However, the results were not published for scientific review.

The most famous yeti evidence is a series of 1951 photographs by mountaineer Eric Shipton showing a unique footprint. Primatologist Dr. John Napier noted that while he would dismiss the yeti, the Shipton print was problematic. Napier's theory that the print was a composite of a human foot in a moccasin melting and refreezing in the sun has been tested and found unworkable by the author, as it does not explain the print's specific proportions.

Other theories for the Shipton print, such as melting together of small animal pawprints, are also dismissed. Zoologist Wladimir Tschernezky suggested the yeti's foot resembled a gorilla's more than a human's, possibly belonging to a "huge, heavily built bipedal primate" similar to Gigantopithecus.

The article discusses Gigantopithecus, a large, extinct primate that fits the size descriptions for yeti and sasquatch. While Gigantopithecus blacki weighed an estimated 400-500kg, an earlier species, Gigantopithecus gigantea, was smaller. "Giganto" is often depicted as an oversized gorilla, though its closest living relative is the orangutan. Paleoanthropologist Russell Ciochon believes it was quadrupedal, while Grover Krantz maintains it was bipedal. The comparison of the Shipton print to a gorilla's foot is also questioned, with the author finding little resemblance based on a visit to a zoo.

Zoologist Edward Cronin reported smaller tracks in 1972, possibly from a juvenile, but the resemblance is debatable. The article notes that despite numerous footprint reports, no clear photographs of anything definitively yeti have emerged. Hair and fecal samples have not been available for DNA analysis. A 1988 photograph by physicist Tony Woolridge was later identified as a boulder. The "snow-walker" footage, shown on television, is considered unverifiable due to lack of corroborating details.

Ultimately, the yeti remains in a "reported but unproven" status. Shipton's footprints are considered inexplicable yet insufficient evidence, leaving the yeti as a mystery.

News and Comment

This section provides brief updates on various cryptozoological topics:

• Mystery Bears: Reports of unclassified bears worldwide include the "irkuiem" from Siberia, an all-black "milne" bear from Peru, and a reddish-furred bear from Columbia's Mucarena Mountains. Only the "MacFarlane's bear" from Canada has hard evidence (skin and skull at the Smithsonian).
• Unidentified Shark: An Associated Press dispatch reported an "unidentified" shark, 13 feet long and weighing 900 pounds, caught by Argentine fishermen. Its poor-quality photograph makes identification difficult, but it could be a large seven-gill or six-gill shark.
• Loch Ness Monster: A June 1996 sighting by 16 people described a large object moving under the surface, causing a wake. The article notes that such reports add to the pile but provide no new clues.

Resources

This section lists relevant books and reader responses:

• Books: "Other Origins: The Search for the Giant Ape in Human Prehistory" by Russell Ciochon et al. is recommended for its scientific approach to Gigantopithecus, though it dismisses tales of surviving giant apes as myths.
• Reader Response: Richard Ellis suggests that the giant squid claws found on a warship might belong to the known species Moroteuthis, which has claws on its suckers, though the reported claw size suggests this species may grow larger than previously known.

Editor's Page

The editor, Matthew A. Bille, reiterates the purpose of Exotic Zoology: to promote cryptozoology as a scientific subspecialty focused on collecting and studying evidence, rather than sensationalized "monsters" or "ghost" animals. He mentions the International Society of Cryptozoology and provides contact information. Subscription details and business manager's niche are also included.

Now in Print: The editor also promotes his own book, "Rumors of Existence," which covers new, rediscovered, and unconfirmed animals, available for $12.95.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes a scientific approach to cryptozoology, emphasizing evidence-based research and the study of potentially undiscovered or extinct species. The editor, Matthew A. Bille, actively distinguishes this field from sensationalism, aiming to restore its scientific credibility. Recurring themes include the rediscovery of elusive creatures, the investigation of anomalous animal reports from around the globe, and the exploration of fossil evidence that might shed light on modern mysteries. The magazine encourages reader engagement through "News and Comment" and "Reader Response" sections, and by listing relevant resources like books and scientific articles.