ISC Newsletter - Vol 04 No 4 - 1985

Magazine Overview

Title: The ISC Newsletter
Issue: Vol. 4, No. 4
Date: Winter 1985
Publisher: International Society of Cryptozoology
Editor: J. Richard Greenwell

This issue of The ISC Newsletter focuses on the enduring mystery of the thylacine, also known as the Tasmanian Tiger or Tasmanian Wolf, exploring persistent reports of its survival decades after its presumed extinction.

Thylacine Reports Persist After 50 Years

The lead article delves into the history and ongoing search for the thylacine, an Australasian carnivorous marsupial thought to have been extinct since the 1930s. The article highlights that despite official declarations of extinction, eyewitness reports continue to surface from Tasmania and mainland Australia. The thylacine, with its distinctive stripes, was once known as the Tasmanian Wolf due to its resemblance to canids. Bounties were placed on the animal, leading to its decline, with the last wild animal shot in 1930 and the last captive one dying in 1936. Despite government protection being granted in 1936, unconfirmed reports persisted.

Zoologist Eric R. Guiler has been a principal authority on the subject for 30 years, leading ten expeditions without producing definitive proof. The article notes that while specimens have been sought, none have been found dead or alive, and clear photographs remain elusive. The search for the thylacine is compared to other cryptozoological mysteries, where definitive evidence is hard to come by.

Early accounts of the thylacine date back to an 1805 Australian newspaper, and historical records show significant sheep losses attributed to the animal, leading to bounty systems. By the early 1900s, thylacine numbers declined rapidly, possibly exacerbated by distemper. Despite specimens being sent to zoos in the 1920s, the 1930s marked the perceived end of the species.

Following the animal's presumed extinction, searches were initiated, including expeditions in 1937, 1938, and post-World War II. In the late 1950s, Eric Guiler became involved, investigating mysterious sheep killings near Broadmarsh that yielded good tracks. Between 1957 and 1966, Guiler led nine expeditions that gathered considerable evidence but no definitive proof. A major private expedition in 1968 also failed to produce conclusive results.

In the late 1970s, the World Wildlife Fund funded a project involving automatic cameras and fieldwork by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). Steven J. Smith of NPWS led a sophisticated camera deployment, but the results primarily showed Tasmanian devils, not thylacines. Smith's 1980 report concluded the animal was likely extinct. Dr. Guiler also deployed automatic cameras, capturing images of various Tasmanian wildlife but not the thylacine.

The article discusses the analysis of 248 sighting reports from 1930 to 1980 by D. E. Rounsevell and Steven Smith, noting that reports increased with publicity. They found most sightings occurred in the north of Tasmania, correlating with historical bounty distribution. The majority of sightings were brief, lasting only seconds, leading to speculation that perceptual psychology might explain some "soft" evidence.

Recent developments include a 1984 report of a park ranger observing a thylacine in northwestern Tasmania, though heavy rain obscured any tracks. The article also mentions a new private expedition in 1984 led by Peter Wright, involving extensive fieldwork and a documentary production, which aimed to capture photographic proof. This expedition faced weather problems and collected potential evidence like predator tracks, but automatic cameras failed to capture a thylacine.

In June 1985, the Wright expedition reportedly ran out of funds. Around the same time, thylacine remains were found in a cave in southern Tasmania, identified by Mike Stoddard of the University of Hobart. Three individual thylacines were recovered, a significant finding as Tasmanian scientists had not had access to complete skeletons.

The article touches upon the societal implications of the thylacine's presumed extinction, noting its immediate protection and symbolic status. It also discusses the complexity of mainland Australian reports, where the thylacine is believed to have been extinct for thousands of years due to competition from the dingo.

Eric Guiler's book, "Thylacine: The Tragedy of the Tasmanian Tiger" (1985), is mentioned, summarizing the history of reports and frustrations. Guiler remains convinced of the thylacine's continued existence, suggesting it might be best left undisturbed.

Two New Onza Skulls Found

This section reports on renewed attention to the Onza, a supposed puma-like felid of Northwest Mexico, distinct from the puma in historical accounts. Helmut Hemmer proposed that the Onza might be a modern persistence of the North American Pleistocene cheetah, Acinonyx (Miracinonyx) trumani. Morphological characteristics described by paleontologist Dan Adams for the fossil cheetah were similar to modern Onza reports.

Richard Greenwell and Wade Sherbrooke tracked down Robert Marshall, who possessed the Los Frailes Onza skull from the 1950s. Dr. Hemmer examined a cast of an upper tooth row and found dental characteristics supportive of the hypothesis. A search for the lost Shirk skull, from a cat killed in Sinaloa in 1938, was also initiated.

Mexican peasants and ranchers describe the Onza as skinnier and longer-legged than the puma, with narrower paw prints and a more aggressive nature. Its coloration is similar to the puma, potentially leading to it being unrecognized.

Troy Best, working with Greenwell, attempted to locate the Shirk skull, believed to be in a museum. Information from mammalogist E. Lendell Cockrum led them to Ricardo Urquijo in Sinaloa, who had a supposed new Onza skull. This skull, from a cat shot about 10 years prior by Jesus Vega, was brought to Tucson on loan. It has a mandible and is in perfect condition.

Dr. Best also investigated the Shirk skull at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, finding it matched the location and year of the original kill. However, this skull was found to be different from the lost Shirk skull. The Vega and Carpenter skulls are considered to be from yet another Onza, sharing characteristics like short nasals, high dome, and narrow carnassials, though some traits like the absent second upper premolar are shared with Lynx.

Collaboration continues among researchers to determine the Onza's identity, with plans to compare new skulls to Pleistocene cheetah fossils. Mr. Marshall is planning an expedition to the Sierra Madre to acquire a complete specimen, acknowledging the hazards involved.

Stafford Lake Monster Caught

This article reports on the resolution of a decades-long "lake monster" mystery at Stafford Lake, California. Local fishermen had reported "something" snatching their tackle for at least 30 years, since the lake was dammed in the early 1950s.

In 1984, during dam repairs, the lake was drained, and a 6.5-foot white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) was discovered. This sturgeon, estimated to be 50 to 60 years old, was likely placed in the lake soon after it was dammed and had been the source of the "monster" reports. The fish was transferred to the California Academy of Sciences' Steinhart Aquarium but died within a week, reportedly from shock due to the transfer from freshwater to saltwater.

The article notes that while this sturgeon was modest in size compared to some giant sturgeon recorded globally, it suggests that large sturgeon might explain many "lake monster" phenomena in North American lakes.

Message from the Editor

J. Richard Greenwell, the editor, reflects on the abundance of information received for the newsletter, noting the challenge of selecting and condensing content. He expresses gratitude for the support of Sustaining Members and Benefactors, acknowledging their contributions to the Society's financial stability. He also apologizes for the tardiness of the newsletters and promises improvement in 1986. Membership renewal for 1986 is encouraged.

Groves Joins Editorial Board

Colin P. Groves, an internationally recognized mammalogist and primatologist, has joined the Editorial Board of Cryptozoology, the Society's journal. Dr. Groves has authored numerous books and articles on diverse zoological topics, including gorillas, primates, and Old World felids. He has served on faculties at several universities and is currently at the Australian National University in Canberra. His research includes work on a wombat species thought extinct for 50 years, with recent findings of hairs resembling those from "scrappy specimens" collected in the 1890s.

Final Chicago Program

This section outlines the program for the 1986 Membership Meeting at the University of Chicago. The meeting will feature several illustrated talks on topics such as the survival of fossil animals, the reconstruction of the Gigantopithecus skull, the identity of the Onza, and the results of an American Yeti Expedition.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently covers topics related to cryptozoology, focusing on animals believed to be extinct but for which reports persist. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting evidence and theories from various researchers while acknowledging the challenges of definitive proof. The publication aims to foster interaction between investigators worldwide and to stimulate research into unresolved questions in the field. The thylacine and Onza articles exemplify the newsletter's commitment to exploring cases with historical depth and ongoing debate. The Stafford Lake Monster story highlights how seemingly inexplicable phenomena can sometimes be resolved through scientific investigation.

The ISC Newsletter, Winter 1985, Vol. 4, No. 4, is published by the International Society of Cryptozoology. The issue features a "Cryptoletters" section for reader correspondence, an article on "Wood's Animal Facts," and a "Stop Press" announcement.

Cryptoletters

This section includes several letters from readers:

• Patrick Brunet-Lecomte from Cremieu, France, is studying small rodents and shrews and is interested in receiving owl pellets from Asia and South America for biogeography and biometry research.
• John Becker from Brooktondale, NY, is developing a Standard Sighting Data Format for computer analysis of cryptozoological reports and requests copies of any existing standard forms and input from interested individuals.
• Diana J. Gabaldon, Executive Editor of Science Software Quarterly, offers ISC members a 30 percent discount on their publication, reducing the price from $45 to $31.50. She also states that the editor will send the journal to any members requesting it.
• A letter from an ISC member highlights a report about giant skunks discovered in the jungles of north central Java. These skunks are described as being as big as German shepherd dogs and capable of climbing trees. One was reportedly captured and killed by shepherds on the slopes of the Ungaran mountain. The writer notes that these giant skunks are not on the list of protected species.
• Karl P. N. Shuker from West Bromwich, England, responds to the giant skunk report. He notes that the three existing skunk genera are exclusively American and that while the Old World has the zorilla, there are also two species of Southeast Asian badgers (stink-badgers) that are large and potent sprayers. Shuker hypothesizes that the "giant skunks" might be a type of badger or an unknown mustelid occupying a similar niche to true skunks or zorillas. He expresses interest in any further information on these creatures.

Wood's Animal Facts

This section, abstracted from "The Guinness Book of Animal Facts and Feats" by Gerald L. Wood, details the sizes of large amphibians:

• The Chinese salamander (*Andrias davidianus*), found in China, is the largest amphibian. Adult specimens average 3 ft., 9 in. (1.14 m.) in total length and weigh 55-66 lb. (25-30 kg.). The largest recorded specimen measured 5 ft. (1.52 m.) snout to tail and 5 ft. 9 in. (1.75 m.) along the body curve, estimated to weigh nearly 100 lb. (45 kg.).
• The Japanese giant salamander (*Andrias japonicus*), found in Japan, is rarer and bulks out slightly smaller than its Chinese counterpart, despite similar lengths. A specimen that died in the Leipzig Zoo in 1930 measured 4 ft., 8-3/4 in. (1.44 m.) straight line and 5 ft. 4-1/2 in. (1.64 m.) along the body curve, weighing 88 lb. (40 kg.) alive.
• Other large, eel-like amphibians approaching these sizes include the three-toed amphiuma (*Amphiuma means tridactylum*) and the giant siren (*Siren lacertina*) from the Southeast United States, measured up to 39.5 in. (100.3 cm.) and 36 in. (91.4 cm.) respectively.

Stop Press

A brief announcement states that in early 1986, an "onza" was shot by ranchers in Sinaloa, Mexico. A team is being organized to travel to Mexico to examine and dissect the animal, with details promised for the Spring 1986 issue.

Membership and Publication Information

The issue lists Honorary Members and Benefactors of the International Society of Cryptozoology. It also provides the society's address in Tucson, Arizona, and notes its status as a non-profit organization with paid postage.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter focuses on cryptozoological reports and scientific facts about unusual animals. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging reader participation and the sharing of information, while also grounding discussions in scientific classification and measurement where possible. The inclusion of letters from various international readers suggests a global interest in the field. The "Stop Press" indicates a commitment to timely reporting of significant events within the cryptozoological community.