ISC Newsletter - Vol 05 No 4 - 1986

Magazine Overview

The ISC Newsletter, Volume 5, Number 4, Winter 1986, published by the International Society of Cryptozoology, features a cover story on "First Yeti Photos Spark Renewed Interest." The issue details a claimed encounter and photographic evidence of a Yeti by Englishman Anthony B. Wooldridge in Northern India in March 1986. The newsletter also includes a "Message from the Editor" regarding membership renewals and publication schedules, a "News & Notes" section with brief cryptozoological reports, and discussions on various historical Yeti evidence and expert opinions.

First Yeti Photos Spark Renewed Interest

The lead article focuses on Anthony B. Wooldridge, who claims to have obtained the first photographs of a Yeti during a 45-minute encounter in the northern Indian Himalayas in March 1986. Wooldridge, who had little prior interest in the Yeti, provided the ISC with copies of the photos and a field report. The photos were first published in Britain's BBC Wildlife magazine. The encounter occurred while Wooldridge was on a solo run for Traidcraft, an organization supporting developing countries. He was near Hemkund, at over 14,000 feet, when he noticed strange tracks and then observed a large, hairy, human-like entity over 6 feet tall, which remained immobile for about 45 minutes. He used a lightweight Nikon camera to take several photos from a distance of about 500 feet.

Wooldridge's report and photos come at a time of renewed interest in the Yeti, particularly in Britain. He consulted with several British experts, including mountaineers Lord Hunt and Chris Bonington, zoologist Desmond Morris, and primatologist John Napier. While Morris found the Yeti hypothesis "more plausible" than other explanations, it was John Napier's public change of mind that was particularly surprising. Napier, a world-renowned expert in primate morphology, had previously dismissed the Yeti as mythical. However, after examining Wooldridge's evidence, he stated, "My conclusions are remarkable but quite logical. In my view, the creature in the photograph is a hominid... The creature cannot be anything but a Yeti... I am now a Yeti devotee."

Other experts offered different assessments. Robert D. Martin, a primatologist, suggested the animal seen might have been a large Himalayan langur, though he admitted the photos "seem to provide evidence of a primate of some kind." Wooldridge himself dismissed the langur, bear, and human hypotheses based on his observations of their behavior and morphology, concluding that the entity was likely an unknown hominoid or hominid.

Historical Context of Yeti Evidence

The article provides a historical overview of Yeti research and sightings:

• 1889: Major L. A. Waddell reported unidentified footprints at 17,000 feet in Sikkim.
• 1921: Lt. Col. C. K. Howard-Bury encountered human-like footprints on Lhakpa-La, leading to the term "Abominable Snowman."
• 1925: N. A. Tombazi reported sighting a human-like figure on Nepal's Zemu Glacier and found human-like footprints.
• 1930s: Numerous mountaineers, including Ronald Kaulback, Frank Smythe, H. W. Tilman, and John Hunt, reported finding unidentified tracks in the Himalayas.
• 1951: Eric Shipton photographed famous Yeti footprints on the Menlung Glacier, which became the unofficial "type specimen."
• 1950s: Several other footprint finds were reported.
• 1953 Expedition: Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the summit of Mount Everest. Hillary later concluded that alleged Yeti footprints were likely distorted human prints from melting snow, and a Khumjung Yeti "scalp" was made from serow hair.
• 1960-1961: Edmund Hillary led another expedition with primary missions in physiology and meteorology, but also investigated Yeti claims, finding them disappointing.
• 1961: William C. Osman Hill published an article in "Oryx" suggesting the Yeti was a "plantigrade mammal capable of bipedal progression" and that searches should focus on lower valley thickets.
• 1970: Don Whillans photographed supposed Yeti tracks and observed an ape-like animal bounding on all fours in Nepal.
• 1972-1973: An American expedition found supposed Yeti tracks in eastern Nepal, with plaster casts made by Jeffrey McNeeley.
• 1979: A British expedition returned with new photos of supposed Yeti footprints.
• 1980: A Polish expedition claimed to have found Yeti tracks at 18,500 feet on Everest.
• 1984: Two Australian climbers reported finding strange tracks near the summit of Mount Everest.
• 1986: Reinhold Messner, a German mountaineer, claimed to have encountered a Yeti in Tibet.

Expert Opinions and Hypotheses

Several experts weighed in on the Yeti phenomenon:

• William C. Osman Hill: Concluded the Yeti was a "plantigrade mammal capable of bipedal progression."
• Edmund Hillary: Dismissed Yeti footprints as distorted human prints and the "scalp" as serow hair.
• Tenzing Norgay: Recounted finding Yeti tracks and noted that Sherpa stories about the Yeti are often intertwined with the supernatural.
• John Napier: Initially skeptical, he later became a "Yeti devotee" after examining Wooldridge's photos.
• Robert D. Martin: Suggested the animal could be a Himalayan langur but acknowledged evidence of a primate.
• Bernard Heuvelmans: Proposed the Yeti might be related to the extinct ape *Gigantopithecus*, or possibly a primitive orangutan.

The Shipton Photo Controversy

The article addresses a controversy surrounding the famous 1951 Shipton footprint photo. Audrey Salkeld suggested the "toes" might have been produced by human hand knuckles. Michael Ward, co-discoverer of the tracks, defended the case as authentic. Confusion arose because the footprint photo was later filed and published with a photo of a separate trail, leading to the mistaken impression that they were part of a sequence of Yeti tracks.

Other Cryptozoological News

• Monster or Mermaid?: A report from Sarawak, Borneo, describes a creature called the "Lawas Monster" with a large neck and bulbous eyes, which wildlife experts believe is the Indo-Pacific dugong.
• A Free Lunch?: A single-cell animal, *Stentor coeruleus*, was discovered to use light for energy through a unique form of photosynthesis.
• Another "Living Fossil": A species of stalked crinoid, *Guillecrinus reunionensis*, believed extinct since the Paleozoic era, was found alive off Reunion Island.
• Champ Resolution: The Vermont Senate passed a resolution calling for the protection of "Champ," a supposed large lake animal, and encouraging scientific investigation.
• Muddying the Waters: Reports from the Soviet Union suggest that sightings of a "monster" in Lake Kok-Kol are caused by mud-covered cracks and whirlpools on the lake's surface.

Message from the Editor

Editor J. Richard Greenwell thanks members for their continued support and urges renewals for 1987. He notes that the Society loses 100-150 members annually but gains new ones, with a total paid-up membership of nearly 700 for 1986. The 1987 publications program aims to be more on schedule, with the Spring newsletter due in April and subsequent issues in June, October, and December. The 1986 journal is expected by March. The Society's annual membership fee remains $25.

1987 Meeting

The 1987 Membership Meeting is scheduled for July 25-26 at the Royal Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, addressing "Nessie" and cryptozoological cats. Members receive preference for admission if they preregister.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue strongly emphasizes the presentation and analysis of evidence related to cryptozoological phenomena, particularly the Yeti. The ISC Newsletter appears to adopt a stance of cautious investigation, presenting claims, expert opinions, and historical context without definitive pronouncements, but clearly encouraging the scientific study of these subjects. The recurring theme is the ongoing search for evidence and the re-evaluation of existing data in the field of cryptozoology, with a particular focus on the Himalayan Yeti and its historical and cultural significance. The editorial stance is one of open inquiry, encouraging member participation and the sharing of information.

The ISC Newsletter, Winter 1986, Vol. 5, No. 4, is a publication of the International Society of Cryptozoology. This issue features reader correspondence in its 'Cryptoletters' section and a dedicated article on 'Wood's Animal Facts.'

Cryptoletters

The 'Cryptoletters' section opens with a note from the editor welcoming reader submissions on cryptozoology and reserving the right to edit them for style and clarity.

Letter from Karl P. N. Shuker

Karl P. N. Shuker of West Bromwich, England, writes in response to an article on the 'Onza.' He shares information from a zoologist colleague who, while studying at the University of Texas at Austin 20 years prior, learned of a cat carcass found near the Mexican border. Initially assumed to be a puma, the workers were surprised to find it was not. Shuker suggests that because the animal was not readily identified as a jaguar or bobcat, its external appearance must have been similar to a puma, with differences only becoming apparent once it was reduced to a skeleton. He believes further investigation of this incident could yield valuable results.

Letter from James A. Clark

James A. Clark of Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada, corrects an earlier statement in the newsletter regarding the Shuswap Lake Monster. He states that the animal does, in fact, have names, and has had three distinct names for centuries. The indigenous peoples called it 'ta-zam-a' (or 'ta-zum-a'). The British Columbia Provincial Archives in Victoria lists a fact sheet under 'Shuswap Monster' that includes the name 'Sicopogo,' a portmanteau of Sicamous (a local community) and Ogopogo. Clark also notes that 'Shuswaggi' was the first name he heard for the monster and was frequently used by B.C. newspapers in the 1960s.

The editorial staff apologizes for the omission, acknowledging that re-reading appropriate sections of books by Mary Moon and Peter Costello would have provided this information. They announce that the Society will officially use the name 'Shuswaggi' when referring to the Shuswap Lake animal, as it appears to have been more widely used.

Letter from P. Werner Lange

P. Werner Lange of Hirschwechsel, German Democratic Republic, expresses gratitude for the Society's publications, describing them as professional, well-edited, and interesting. He notes that while skeptics may initially resist new knowledge, the Society's careful presentation of facts is convincing and helps them to 'take their first sip from the water of knowledge.'

Wood's Animal Facts

This section focuses on the Kodiak bear (*Ursus arctos middendorffi*), found on Kodiak Island and adjacent islands in the Gulf of Alaska. It details the physical characteristics of the average adult male, including its nose-to-tail length (8 ft.), shoulder height (52 in.), and weight (1,050-1,175 lbs.). Females are noted to be about one-third smaller. The text emphasizes that a bear's weight fluctuates significantly throughout the year, increasing by up to 60 percent by the end of summer and being significantly lower after hibernation.

The article presents records for the largest Kodiak bears:

• Wild: A male shot at English Bay, Kodiak Island, in 1894 by J. C. Tolman weighed 1,656 1b. (751 kg.). Its stretched skin measured 13 ft. 6 in. (4.12 m.) from nose to tail root, with a hindfoot of 18 in. (46 cm.).
• Captivity: A male at Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Park, Colorado, U.S.A., weighed 1,670 1b. (757 kg.) at its death in 1955. The article mentions 'Sam' and 'Erskine,' twin Kodiak bears at the Chicago Zoological Park, Illinois, with Sam weighing 1,412 1b. (640 kg.) and Erskine an estimated 1,600 1b. (726 kg.) at his death in 1957.

This information is abstracted from 'The Guinness Book of Animal Facts and Feats' by Gerald L. Wood.

Acknowledgments and Corporate Information

The newsletter lists its Honorary Members, including Andre Capart (Belgium), Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer (South Africa), David James (United Kingdom), Marie-Jeanne Koffman (Soviet Union), Ingo Krumbiegel (Federal German Republic), Theodore Monod (France), John R. Napier (United Kingdom), and Sir Peter Scott (United Kingdom). It also lists Benefactors and Corporate Sponsors.

The publication details are provided for The ISC Newsletter, International Society of Cryptozoology, P.O. Box 43070, Tucson, Arizona 85733, U.S.A., with a note indicating it is a non-profit organization with paid U.S. postage.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter maintains an open stance towards cryptozoological topics, as evidenced by the 'Cryptoletters' section which encourages reader participation and discussion. The editorial team demonstrates a commitment to accuracy and thoroughness, as shown by their apology for an omission regarding the Shuswap Lake Monster's names and their commitment to using the most widely accepted nomenclature. The inclusion of 'Wood's Animal Facts' suggests an interest in verifiable zoological data, possibly to provide context or comparison for cryptozoological subjects. The publication also highlights its supporters, indicating a community-driven effort.