ISC Newsletter - Vol 02 No 4 - 1983

Magazine Overview

The ISC Newsletter, Winter 1983, Vol. 2, No. 4, is the official publication of the International Society of Cryptozoology. Edited by J. Richard Greenwell, it covers various cryptozoological investigations and reports. The issue features a prominent article on a Mokele-Mbembe sighting in the Congo, alongside updates on Loch Ness research, and other notable sightings and discoveries.

Congolese Biologist Observes Mokele-Mbembe

This lead article details a dramatic expedition in the summer of 1983 to the Likouala swamps in the People's Republic of the Congo. The expedition, led by Congolese biologist Marcelin Agnagna, reached Lake Telle, the supposed habitat of the Mokele-Mbembe, a creature described by natives as a sauropod dinosaur.

Agnagna's official report, translated from French, was forwarded to ISC Vice-President Roy Mackal and Secretary Richard Greenwell. Both are convinced of Agnagna's competence and trustworthiness, having worked with him on a previous expedition in 1981. The report confirms that Lake Telle is shallow, contradicting earlier French hydrographic findings, and supports, or at least vindicates, previous claims made by Herman Regusters.

The expedition consisted of seven persons from the Ministry of Water and Forests and other ministries. They traveled by air to Epena and then by dugout on the Likouala River. After preparation, they proceeded to Lake Telle. Despite two days of observation, no sightings were made from the base camp.

On May 1, Agnagna and two Boha villagers explored the forest near the lake. At approximately 2:30 p.m., Agnagna was filming monkeys when his companion fell into a pool of water. While washing himself at the lake's edge, Agnagna was called to see a large animal in the lake, estimated to be 300 meters away. The visible part of the animal was about 5 meters long, with a long neck, small head, and a large back. Agnagna recognized it as resembling a Mesozoic sauropod. In his report, he described the front part as brown and the back part of the neck as black and shining.

In his haste, Agnagna forgot to remove the lens cap from his movie camera, and the film developed black. He continued to wade closer, but the animal submerged. It remained submerged for about 20 minutes before submerging completely. The team later attempted to film again with video equipment but had no further success. The expedition concluded after 45 days, with the team facing difficulties returning due to a lack of expected aircraft.

Agnagna's report is emphatic, stating with certainty that the animal was Mokele-Mbembe, alive, and known to local inhabitants. He expressed a desire for a return expedition with better equipment to obtain proof.

The article also references previous expeditions, including one by James Powell and Roy Mackal in 1980, which collected reports but could not reach Lake Telle. Herman Regusters' 1981 expedition also claimed sightings at Lake Telle, but faced skepticism due to a lack of photographic evidence and claims of extreme lake depth that contradicted French findings. Regusters has submitted a report on sound recordings he believes contain Mokele-Mbembe calls.

Agnagna, a graduate of the University of Havana in terrestrial mammalogy, is one of only two biologists in the Congo. The article notes that a collaborative program with the Congolese government is being considered, but funding remains a significant obstacle.

Ness Teams Crowd Loch

This section details the 1983 efforts to find evidence of the Loch Ness Monster, marking the 50th anniversary of the first publicized sightings. At least four separate teams were present:

• Robert Rines and associates of the Academy of Applied Sciences: Continued their sonar/underwater photography approach, adapting new equipment and techniques for a low-profile, continuous monitoring program. Details of their work were not being released to the media.
• Adrian Shine and associates of the British Loch Ness Project: Concentrating on Loch Ness after years of fieldwork. A summary of their work was published in *New Scientist*, noting 40 sonar contacts with unidentified targets. Shine organizes volunteers and collaborates with British industrial firms and scientific authorities.
• Alan Kielar and Rikki Razzan: Employed a sophisticated raft equipped with 144 mini-sonar transducers and nine biopsy dart 'harpoons' costing an estimated $100,000. By the end of August, no 'monsters' had been detected. They expressed skepticism about the evidence for monsters.
• Eric Beckjord and Anya Kuratchin-Lincoln: Beckjord, a Bigfoot investigator, used a bank surveillance camera loaned by an electronics firm. He reported filming an object on August 4, described as 15-20 feet long, shaped like an overturned boat. On August 6, he claimed to have filmed 'suspicious, significant things' on tape, described as a dark body 30 feet long. His claims generated significant media attention, including appearances on 'Good Morning America.' However, his interpretations faced skepticism, and he was reportedly trying to sell his film. A book by Frank Searle, 'Hunting Nessie,' was withdrawn from publication due to libel concerns.

The 1983 Loch Ness season ended with only six reported sightings, according to the article.

Society Receives Federal Tax Exemption

The International Society of Cryptozoology (ISC) was notified by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in late 1983 that it has been granted tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3). This means that donors can deduct their contributions for Federal income, estate, and gift tax purposes. This exemption is particularly relevant for U.S. taxpayers.

The exemption comes at a time when the Society is facing financial difficulties due to increased costs for publishing Volume 2 of its journal, which grew to over 170 pages. The Society has a debt of approximately $4,000 to Allen Press. To address this, members are urged to renew their memberships promptly for 1984 and to consider including a voluntary donation, which is now tax-deductible for U.S. members.

The Society is also proposing two new status categories: Benefactor (including life membership) and Corporate Sponsor. The membership fee has remained at $25 since the Society's founding, but an increase for 1985 is being considered.

Message from the Editor

J. Richard Greenwell, the Editor, reflects on the Society's two years of operation, acknowledging that newsletters and journals have not always been on time but have been sound and personally verified. He explains the extensive process of reviewing periodicals, corresponding with individuals, and abstracting information, while generally ignoring sensational tabloid stories. The Society aims to be scientific and does not promote 'belief' in unknown animals, welcoming all viewpoints, including skeptical ones. The Editor notes that the Society has received positive acceptance from the scientific community regarding its methodology, even though it has faced criticism from some established lay experts.

News & Notes

• Cryptozoological Discovery in Nepal: Daniel Taylor-Ide and Robert L. Fleming report finding tracks, nests, and skull specimens of a new species of bear in Nepal, with a live specimen also located. Further details are promised.
• Nessie on a Diet?: Roger Tippett of the University of Glasgow presented preliminary data suggesting that Loch Ness lacks sufficient food to support a colony of large predators. His conclusions are based on calculating the primary productivity of the loch and energy loss through trophic levels.
• "Flattie" Back in Action: Reports of a large creature, described as a 'giant fish' between 25 and 30 feet long, sighted in Flathead Lake, Montana, on August 30, 1983. Witnesses described its fin and the wake it created. Local legends of a large animal in the lake persist, and fishery experts have not ruled out the possibility of a large sturgeon or other unusual creature.
• Big Bird Is Back: An ambulance technician in Harlingen, Texas, reported seeing a large, black, rough-textured 'bird-like object' with wing-like coverings and a hump on its head on September 14, 1983. The description bears resemblance to a pterodactyl.
• Megamouth Described: The scientific description of *Megachasma pelagios*, a new species, genus, and family of shark discovered in 1976, is detailed. The shark, named for its large mouth, exhibits bioluminescence and has teeth structurally similar to those of the great white shark, though it is sluggish. The discovery suggests the existence of other unknown marine animals.
• "Sea Serpents" Seen off California Coast: A sighting occurred at Stinson Beach, California, on October 31, 1983, involving a 'sea serpent' described as having humps and a long body, followed by birds and sea lions. Another sighting of a 'sea serpent' was reported near Costa Mesa on November 2, 1983, described as a long black eel.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the ongoing search for evidence of unknown animals, particularly Mokele-Mbembe and the Loch Ness Monster, and the challenges faced by cryptozoologists in gaining scientific acceptance and funding. The editorial stance, as articulated by J. Richard Greenwell, is one of scientific rigor, emphasizing verified events and evaluations over sensationalism, while remaining open to all viewpoints, including skeptical ones. The Society aims to handle cryptozoological topics with a calm, scientific approach, distinguishing itself from tabloid reporting.

The ISC Newsletter, Winter 1983, Vol. 2, No. 4, is a publication from the International Society of Cryptozoology. This issue features a section titled 'Cryptoletters' where readers share their thoughts and observations on various topics within the field of cryptozoology.

Cryptoletters - Reader Contributions

Letter from Michel Raynal Michel Raynal of Narbonne, France, writes in response to an interview with Forrest G. Wood. Raynal proposes that the habitat of giant octopuses in the Bahamas is likely the 'blue holes,' caverns, and tunnels of the limestone Bahamas Bank, found at shallow depths. He notes that divers have reported many large crustaceans in these areas, suggesting they could be a food source for Octopus giganteus. Additionally, Raynal points out that the Bahamas region is a known habitat for the migration of spiny lobsters, with potentially millions living there, providing ample food for numerous giant octopuses.

Letter from Robert Takaroff Robert Takaroff of Jackson Heights, New York, U.S.A., shares his perspective on the definition of cryptozoology. He disagrees with the view that once a hidden animal is revealed, it ceases to be a subject of cryptozoology and becomes solely of interest to zoology. Takaroff argues that animals whose nature is not understood, even if not hidden, are proper subjects for cryptozoological study. He uses the example of the pygmy chimpanzee, discovered in this century, noting that its nature was debated. Takaroff suggests that more study of creatures like 'Littlefoot' (presumably a reference to a less famous cryptid) alongside 'Bigfoot' would strengthen the assertion that cryptozoology is a subdivision of zoology.

Editor's Response to Takaroff The Editor responds to Robert Takaroff's points, acknowledging that by definition, cryptozoology studies the possible existence of unknown animals. However, the Editor notes that once an animal is 'discovered,' the specific methods of cryptozoology may no longer be the primary focus, and other biological disciplines like ecology, physiology, and molecular biology become relevant. The Editor questions what cryptozoology can uniquely contribute to the study of a newly discovered animal that other disciplines cannot. Despite this, the Editor concedes that cryptozoology can remain interested in such animals after discovery and subsequent study by other fields, citing the ongoing interest in the coelacanth decades after its discovery.

Letter from Nikolai Spassov Nikolai Spassov from Sofia, Bulgaria, reports on an expedition to Mozambique that concluded successfully in the autumn. Spassov participated in the expedition mentioned in the 'Crypto-trips' section of the Summer 1983 Newsletter. He notes that he had limited opportunities to actively investigate the Tokoloshe problem. The information gathered from hunters, natives, and Ministry of Agriculture officials was not convincing. Spassov suspects that observations and tales related to a chimpanzee, found in nearby regions, might be embedded within the Tokoloshe myth. He believes that the remote, unexplored parts of northern Mozambique could hold the answer to the question and hopes to explore these areas in 1984.

Cryptoquote

This section features a lengthy quote from Percy H. Fawcett, taken from his book 'Lost Trails, Lost Cities' (Funk and Wagnalls, 1952). Fawcett describes an encounter with a giant anaconda on the Rio Negro. He recounts drifting in a boat when a triangular head and undulating body appeared. He shot the creature, estimating its length to be 62 feet (45 feet out of the water, 17 feet in it). He describes the body as not thick for its colossal length, about 12 inches in diameter. Fawcett notes the fear of his Indian crew and the difficulty in cutting a piece of the skin due to the snake's movements. He concludes that such large specimens may not be common, but swamp trails can reach a width of 6 feet, supporting Indian and rubber picker accounts of anacondas of incredible size. He mentions a Brazilian Boundary Commission report of an anaconda exceeding 80 feet in length and a black variety known as the 'Dormidera' or 'Sleeper' in the Araguaya and Tocantins basins, reputed to reach huge sizes. Fawcett states that these reptiles live principally in swamps, which often become ditches of mud in the dry season, and venturing into their haunts is 'to flirt with death.'

Wood's Animal Facts

This section abstracts information from 'The Guinness Book of Animal Facts and Feats' by Gerald L. Wood. It highlights the whale shark (Rhiniodon typus) as the largest and bulkiest fish in the world, found in warmer oceans. The species was first discovered in April 1928. The text mentions a 15-foot specimen harpooned in Table Bay, South Africa. More than 40 years elapsed before Rhiniodon was heard of again. Since then, over 100 have been stranded or rammed by ships. The largest scientifically measured whale shark on record was a 41-foot, 6-inch specimen captured off Baba Island, Pakistan, in November 1949. This specimen measured 23 feet in girth and weighed an estimated 21.5 tonnes.

ISC Publications Available

Information is provided regarding the availability of past issues of The ISC Newsletter and the journal Cryptozoology. Prices are listed for individuals and institutions, with postage included for all countries. All past publications are stated to be still available.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the definition and scope of cryptozoology, the potential habitats and existence of large unknown creatures (giant octopuses, giant anacondas), and the investigation of cryptid myths (Tokoloshe). The editorial stance, as expressed by the Editor's response to Robert Takaroff, suggests a pragmatic view of cryptozoology, acknowledging its role in identifying unknown animals but also emphasizing the transition to conventional biological disciplines once discoveries are made and studied.