ISC Newsletter - Vol 11 No 4 - 1992

Magazine Overview

Title: The ISC Newsletter
Issue: Vol. 11, No. 4
Date: 1992 (though the main article discusses a 1993 sighting)
Publisher: International Society of Cryptozoology (ISC)
Country: U.S.A.
Language: English

This issue of The ISC Newsletter, dated 1992, focuses heavily on a reported sighting of a moa in New Zealand in January 1993. The newsletter provides a detailed account of the event, the witnesses' testimonies, the subsequent investigation, and the ensuing controversy.

New Zealand Moa Sighting Reported by Three Witnesses

The lead article details a remarkable encounter on South Island, New Zealand, where three individuals—Paddy Freaney (hotel owner), Sam Waby (schoolteacher), and Rochelle Rafferty (gardener)—claimed to have seen a 6-foot (2m) moa. Moas, large flightless birds, are believed to have become extinct centuries before the arrival of Captain Cook in 1769. Despite scientific consensus, occasional reports have fueled speculation about their survival.

The witnesses described the bird as having reddish-brown and gray feathers, large, thick legs, and a long neck. They dismissed the possibility of it being an Australian emu or an African ostrich, citing their familiarity with these birds. Freaney attempted to photograph the creature and later found what he believed to be its tracks.

The New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC) initially took the report seriously, with Protection Officer Ken Hughey stating that finding a live moa would be a major natural history discovery. Plans were made for fieldwork to find evidence such as feathers, tracks, and droppings. However, skepticism arose from some New Zealand scientists, including paleontologist Beverly McCulloch, who deemed living moas "essentially impossible." Dennis Dunbar, a railway station owner, also suggested Freaney, being Irish, might be a practical joker, though Freaney vehemently denied this.

Despite these doubts, Dr. Hughey maintained that the witnesses were credible and that the DOC had to take their claims at face value, as there was no evidence of a hoax. Freaney, a former instructor with the British Army's SAS, emphasized his ability to assess situations quickly and stated he was willing to sign an affidavit.

Further complicating matters, Freaney owned a nearby hotel, potentially benefiting from increased tourism, and Rafferty worked at the same hotel. However, Waby, a schoolteacher, was seen as a less likely candidate for perpetrating a hoax.

DOC eventually suspended its planned fieldwork. Spokesman Jim Kidson stated the department wanted to "check it out... a little more," and Dr. Hughey expressed pessimism, calling the chance of survival "a billion to one."

The photograph taken by Freaney was sent for analysis to the University of Canterbury's Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. An imaging team reported that after electronic enhancement, the blurred shape appeared to be that of a bird, possibly three-dimensional, and could not be a red deer or llama. Kevin Taylor, a graduate student on the team, noted it looked like a large bird with a beak-like feature.

Freaney welcomed this announcement, seeing it as proof of their sincerity. However, New Zealand scientists like Richard Holdaway, a paleoecologist, remained unconvinced. Holdaway suggested the image was more consistent with a four-legged animal, specifically a red deer, and that the neck was "too thick to be a bird."

Later, the DOC announced it had ended its investigation, calling the moa management plan prepared in 1991 a "theoretical exercise" for a manual. An editorial in The Dominion criticized DOC's actions as "dereliction of duty."

Freaney provided the original photo negatives to the University for further analysis, agreeing to cover the costs. However, the University's imaging team announced no firm conclusions could be reached from the original negatives, stating the result was "the same as before." Kevin Taylor reiterated that he could not deblur the image further and had "no opinion on what it is."

The article concludes by posing the question of whether moas still survive in New Zealand, acknowledging the conflict between eyewitness testimony and scientific opinion, and stating that the case boils down to whether the three witnesses are truthful or lying.

Editor's Note: Moas, Reality, and Social Perception

J. Richard Greenwell, the editor, reflects on the moa sighting report and its implications for cryptozoology. He frames the issue as a conflict between "reality" and "social perception." He argues that while reality is constant, our perception of it changes. The question is whether moas are truly extinct, or if our societal perception is incorrect. Greenwell emphasizes that in science, we deal with probabilities, not absolute beliefs. He uses the example of meteorites, once considered "impossible," to illustrate how perceptions can change. He also discusses the "impossible" nature of the coelacanth's survival. Greenwell concludes by stating that while he doesn't know if the witnesses saw a moa, it is "certainly possible" and "not 'impossible.'"

Forthcoming Articles

The newsletter lists upcoming topics for the next eight newsletters, including reports on possible ground sloths in Brazil, new mammal species in Vietnam, controversies surrounding specific snake and sea serpent descriptions, fossil evidence of mammoth survival, confirmation of puma presence in New Brunswick, and discoveries of new monkey and kangaroo species.

Renewal Information

This issue marks the end of Vol. 11 (1992). Members are urged to renew for Vol. 12 (1993-1996), which will be a four-year volume to help the Society catch up. Renewal instructions and payment methods are detailed, including options for U.S. and international members. Donations are encouraged to help bridge the Society's financial gap.

Quotes

The issue includes several quotes:

• Winston S. Churchill on horses.
• Ronald N. Giere on scientific objectivity.
• Arthur Kornberg on the pursuit of curiosity in science.
• Ivan Turgenev on systems and truth.
• Neils Bohr on quantum problems.

Sustaining Members

A list of Sustaining Members for Vol. 11 is provided, categorized by donation amount. The total number of sustaining members reached 306, representing about 39% of the membership. The total membership remained around 800.

Cryptoletters

This section features letters from readers. David Robbins comments on the anaconda claim, questioning its veracity. Marc Pechenart also questions the anaconda account, specifically regarding the type of bullet used and the snake's reaction after being shot. Christopher K. Mylne discusses the Nessie plesiosaur theory and the challenges of cryptozoological investigation.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the nature of evidence in cryptozoology, the conflict between eyewitness accounts and scientific skepticism, and the role of social perception in defining what is considered possible or impossible. The editorial stance, as articulated by J. Richard Greenwell, is one of open-minded inquiry, emphasizing the importance of considering probabilities rather than dismissing claims outright due to preconceived notions of impossibility. The newsletter encourages members to support the Society financially and to engage with the ongoing research and debates within the field of cryptozoology.

The ISC Newsletter, Vol. 11, No. 4, published in 1992, is the official publication of the International Society of Cryptozoology. It serves as a forum for members to share research, opinions, and observations related to cryptozoology.

Letters to the Editor

Membership Survey and Publication Delays

Giacinta Bradley Koontz expresses gratitude for the latest newsletters and defends the ISC against criticism regarding publication delays. She emphasizes the effort required to produce scholarly publications, drawing from her experience as the director of an aviation history conference. Koontz notes that members' passion for cryptozoology means they will wait for publications, encouraging future issues to focus on the subject.

The Bermuda Blob and Pacific Globsters

Athol M. Douglas of Augusta, Western Australia, responds to a story about the Bermuda Blob and Pacific globsters. He recounts his investigation of the 'Rottnest Monster' in September 1934, an event near Fremantle where a large mass of blubber with hair-like tissue was found. Douglas describes swimming out to the carcass, discovering it was moving, and diving under it to find two sharks. He notes that the carcass later washed ashore and was devoid of organs. He also mentions seeing similar blubber masses and whole whale carcasses along the coast in subsequent years. In 1965, he investigated another 'globster' with Geoff Shaw from the Western Australian Museum, which also consisted of a great mass of blubber with fibrous tissue but no organs. Douglas further recounts investigating the beaching of 32 false killer whales near Albany between 1966-67, where a fresh slab of blubber from a slaughtered humpback whale, lost from a ship, was also found. He concludes that these 'blobs' and 'globsters' are likely the tragic remains of slaughtered whales.

The Name 'Danta'

John M. Proffett of Proffett Exploration, Inc., writes in response to an editorial about the 'danta' and 'horse-bear.' He discusses the term 'danta' as a native term for tapirs in Central and South America. Proffett shares his experience in the mountainous northern part of Chiapas, Mexico, in 1965, where local field assistants referred to a large animal as 'danta.' Although he never saw one, locals reported hunting and shooting them for food, describing them as large and often crashing through the forest. Proffett states that several people in the area confirmed that the 'danta' was indeed a tapir.

Society Purpose and Policy

The International Society of Cryptozoology (ISC), founded in 1982 in Washington, D.C., is a tax-exempt, non-profit scientific organization. Its purpose is to serve as a focal point for the investigation, analysis, publication, and discussion of animals of unexpected form or size, or unexpected occurrence. The Society also aims to facilitate public discussion and education, providing reliable information to authorities. The ISC explicitly states that it takes no position on the existence of supposed animals and that any opinions expressed by members are personal and do not reflect official Society policy or stance on the authenticity of cryptozoological evidence.

Memberships and Subscriptions

Membership and subscription inquiries are directed to the ISC Secretariat, P.O. Box 43070, Tucson, Arizona 85733, U.S.A. Annual membership is US$32 or £22. This includes receipt of The ISC Newsletter quarterly and the journal Cryptozoology annually. Joint memberships for couples are available for US$37 or £25. Institutional subscriptions for organizations, zoological parks, aquariums, and libraries are US$45 per year. There are no additional fees for memberships or subscriptions outside the U.S.A. Payment for non-U.S./U.K. members is preferred in U.S. dollars via bank draft or international postal money order, though personal checks in local currencies are accepted if equivalent to US$32. The same payment methods apply to renewals.

Back Issues

Back issues of The ISC Newsletter and the journal Cryptozoology are available for individuals at US$3.50 or £2.50 per issue, and US$18 or £12 for annual subscriptions. Institutions should contact the ISC Secretariat for institutional rates. Prices include postage. Discounts are offered for larger orders: 10% for orders between $33-$100, 20% for $101-$200, and 30% for orders over $201. Free order forms listing all back publications can be requested from the ISC Secretariat. All orders must be prepaid.

Field Medical Advisor

Dr. Michael J. Manyak, M.D., Department of Urology at George Washington University Medical Center, serves as the Field Medical Advisor. Members planning fieldwork, especially in tropical areas, are encouraged to contact him for free medical/health care advice. His contact details are provided.

Honorary Members and Benefactors

The newsletter lists several Honorary Members, including Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer (South Africa), Athol M. Douglas (Australia), and Robert H. Rines (U.S.A.), among others. It also lists Benefactors, such as Rolf Auster (U.S.A.) and Loren Coleman (U.S.A.).

Corporate Sponsors

Corporate Sponsors include the Academy of Applied Science (U.S.A.), The Conservation Agency (U.S.A.), and Tracto-Technik Group of Companies (Germany/U.K./France/U.S.A.).

Archival Material

Members are encouraged to submit copies of cryptozoology-related newspaper reports, popular magazine articles, and scientific papers to the ISC Secretariat for archival purposes. Recently published material is welcome, but old and obscure items are also of interest. Submissions should include a full reference, including the publication name, date, and page numbers for scientific papers. While acknowledgments of receipt are not typically sent due to mail volume, all submitted items are read, often used in the Newsletter, and preserved.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the nature of cryptozoological evidence, particularly the identification of unusual biological finds like 'globsters,' and the importance of rigorous research and documentation. The editorial stance, as stated in the 'Society Purpose and Policy' section, is neutral on the existence of cryptozoological subjects, focusing instead on providing a platform for investigation, discussion, and education. The newsletter also highlights the practical challenges of publishing and the dedication of its members and staff.