Exotic Zoology - Vol 5 No 2 - 1998

Magazine Overview

Title: EXOTIC ZOOLOGY
Issue: Vol.5, #2 March/April 1998
Publisher: Exotic Zoology
Editor: Matthew A. Bille

This issue of Exotic Zoology, a bimonthly magazine of cryptozoology, focuses on the mystery animal Sasquatch, also known as Bigfoot, and explores the reasons for its diminished presence in popular and scientific discourse.

Whatever Happened to Sasquatch?

The lead article, "Whatever Happened to Sasquatch?", notes that a quarter of a century prior, Sasquatch was a hot topic with well-equipped expeditions and cataloged sightings. Highly respected scientists like Dr. John Napier took the subject seriously. However, by 1998, the "big guy" seemed to have "dropped off the cryptozoological map," with a reduced torrent of books and articles, and most American anthropologists and primatologists, except for Dr. Grover Krantz, having dropped the subject.

The article delves into the origins of the Sasquatch story, noting that the term comes from a Salish Indian word and that various Native American tribes told stories of large, hair-covered beings. It acknowledges the difficulty for non-Indians to discern whether these traditions refer to animals, supernatural beings, or something in between.

Key Evidence and Scientific Scrutiny

Modern reports of ape-like creatures in the Northwestern U.S. and western Canada began circulating from the 1920s, but the first major publicity came with the October 1958 "Crew case" in northern California, where a plaster cast of an enormous footprint was found and widely published.

The most controversial evidence emerged in October 1967 with the Patterson-Gimlin film, which showed a heavy-set, hair-covered biped walking through the forest. This film brought the subject to the attention of "mainstream" experts. Dr. John Napier, a leading primatologist, found the film compelling but noted an improbable mix of human and ape characteristics and male and female traits. The film's authenticity has been debated extensively, with makeup artist John Chambers denying he created the suit.

In 1969, a trail of large, 18-inch Sasquatch tracks was discovered near Bossburg, Washington. These tracks exhibited an anatomically accurate clubfoot deformity. Napier considered faking such tracks unlikely.

Despite numerous subsequent alleged films, photographs, and sightings, none have had the impact of the Patterson film and Bossburg prints. A 1995 report about Sasquatch hair testing at Ohio State University using DNA was later denied by Dr. Frank Poirier of the university's anthropology department.

Scientific Challenges and Skepticism

The article highlights the scientific challenges in accepting Sasquatch as a primate. There is no fossil record of large primates in the Americas. Anthropologist Kenneth Wylie points out that most Sasquatch reports describe a solitary, nocturnal animal, which is atypical for known higher primates. The vast range reported for Sasquatch also poses a problem.

Dr. Grover Krantz is presented as Sasquatch's most prominent scientific advocate, believing it to be a living representative of *Gigantopithecus blacki*. However, his peers generally believe he went too far in naming a species based solely on footprints.

The Pervasive Evidence: Footprints

The most pervasive evidence cited is footprints, but the "thousand-plus footprint cases" show "every conceivable variation, including anywhere from two to five toes," leading to the conclusion that most are hoaxes. An old ex-logger named Rant Mullens even claimed to have started the Sasquatch epic by leaving fake footprints in the late 1920s. Krantz believes a minority of tracks are genuine and possess distinguishing traits, though he himself has been fooled by a hoax.

"Establishment" Resistance and Official Recognition

Some researchers charge that the scientific "establishment" ignores or suppresses Sasquatch evidence. The article argues this is true in the sense that few scientists will study an alleged animal without hard evidence. Exceptions like Krantz and Napier are noted, but most scientists who examined the Patterson film rejected it. The idea of scientists deliberately ignoring evidence is dismissed, as discovery would bring world fame.

Sasquatch briefly appeared in an environmental atlas by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and was mistakenly reported in 1978 as being added to the U.S. government's Endangered Species List, a claim later retracted.

Current Status and Expert Opinions

Despite the lack of definitive proof, interest in Sasquatch remains high, with numerous organizations investigating. The article notes the lack of "hard evidence: a bone, a hunk of skin, anything." Hair and dung samples have failed to provide positive proof without a known sample for comparison.

The "Minnesota Iceman" exhibit is mentioned but dismissed as not matching Sasquatch descriptions and its current whereabouts being unknown.

Sightings continue to accumulate, but without leading to hard evidence, they do not advance the case. Multiple-witness sightings by qualified biological scientists have not occurred.

Peter Byrne and John Green are mentioned as long-time researchers still actively searching.

The "Comment" section offers a personal opinion that a breeding population of huge apes living unknown in North America is "extremely unlikely" due to the lack of hard evidence over a long period. The author believes sincere witnesses were likely mistaken rather than Sasquatch existing, though wishes researchers luck.

Sources and Special Announcement

Page 6 lists numerous sources for the Sasquatch article, including newspaper articles, books, and personal communications. It also announces that "Exotic Zoology" will be changing format starting with Volume 6, No.1 (1999), becoming a shorter, four-page newsletter with mail or email delivery options. Subscription rates are also detailed.

News and Comment

This section features several brief reports:

• South Island Kokako: Recorded birdcalls suggest the critically endangered New Zealand bird may not be extinct.
• Clarification on "Sea Monkey": The theory that Georg Steller's "sea monkey" was a Hawaiian monk seal, attributed to Chris Orrick, is clarified as having been previously proposed by Dr. Sheila Anderson.
• Alice Springs Mouse: This Australian rodent, missing since 1895, has been rediscovered and found to be cospecific with the Shark Bay mouse.
• Loch Ness Monster: Newly released papers from 1967 reveal the British government's difficulty in determining how to protect the "Loch Ness monster," with departments unable to classify it and deeming it not their problem.

Editor's Page

The Editor's Page reiterates the purpose of "Exotic Zoology" as a serious scientific pursuit of cryptozoology, distinct from sensationalized "monster" stories. It provides publication details, subscription rates, and contact information. It also announces the upcoming "Third Annual Subscriber Directory" and provides a form for readers to be included.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes cryptozoology as a legitimate scientific endeavor, emphasizing the collection and study of evidence. The editorial stance is one of critical inquiry, acknowledging the public's fascination with mystery animals while striving for rigorous analysis and debunking sensationalism. The Sasquatch feature exemplifies this by presenting evidence, scientific challenges, and skeptical viewpoints, ultimately concluding that while the search continues, definitive proof remains elusive. The "News and Comment" section reinforces this by reporting on actual rediscoveries of supposedly extinct species and historical curiosities, maintaining a tone of factual reporting.