WELL DONE, SINGAPORE AIRLINES!

SIA Airplane

Well done, SIA (Singapore Airlines).  Because of the environmental issues raised by the killing of sharks, it has decided to stop shipping shark fins, which it did in large quantities.  We wish that all commercial enterprises shared their sense of responsibility and their decision to put morality ahead of money.

VAMPIRES OF ROMANIA

Many people think Transylvania is a mythical country, but it does exist.  It is in Romania.  The folklore of Romania features vampires, as the following article explains.

Courtesy of Lon Strickler

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THE ROC: GARGANTUAN BIRD

Roc

If you are familiar with the Arabian Nights, you may remember the roc (Arabic, rukh) a gigantic bird large enough to carry off an elephant.  Sinbad the Sailor, known for his seven voyages, encountered one.  Sinbad must be one of the most irritating people in literature.  Forever getting into the most appalling perils, he invariably escapes and makes a great profit, only to return to land and, after a time, hanker to set off again, though he has no need to do so and the reader knows all too well that further appalling perils are just waiting for him out there.

But, to get back to the Roc, it is, of course, mythical, but the question arises regarding the origin of belief in it.  It may go back to the mythical Indian bird Garuda, but there may also be an origin in more material form.  On the island of Madagascar there was once a huge bird, unable to fly, called the Aepyornis and, more colloquially, the elephant bird.  While this creature may have become extinct centuries ago, its eggs have remained and the Malagasys and the Arabs, noting their size, inferred the existence of a giant bird from them.  Indeed, the Malagasys have a giant bird, the vorompatra, in their legends and they may have passed traditions of that on to the Arabs.

Also a possibility is the memory of another extinct bird of Madagascar, the Malagasy crowned eagle (Stephanoaetus mahery), which was not the sort of creature you would want to run into if off meandering.

The Roc, because of its appearances in the Arabian Nights, has etched itself a place in human consciousness.  It is a spectacular mythical bird, but, take my word, you wouldn't want one living near you. 

HUMANOIDS IN ARGENTINA

Account of humanoid sighting.

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STRANGE HOLES IN RUSSIAN TUNDRA

Their existence poses something of a mystery.

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ON THIS DAY IN WEIRD

On This Day in Weird, July 31...

1967: Trucker Sidney Zipkin reports two tiny humanoids in shiny black outfits boarding a "Saturn-shaped" UFO outside Churchville, New York. At his approach, the craft departs, soaring straight upward.

1975: Danie van Graan sees four thin humanoids, each about four feet tall, inside a grounded UFO. A beam of light strikes van Graan in the face, knocking him unconscious. 

MEANWHILE, IN THE SEWERS.....

Sewer monsters reported from South Carolina.  Anyone for a hunt?

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RATTISH REGRET

There is now evidence that a rat will regret making a bad decision.

Eek!

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BITTEN BY A THYLACINE

The last officially recorded thylacine bit a cameraman in the fundamental region.

Thy;acine

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YETI YET AGAIN

Wildman sightings have been reported from Siberia.

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ON THIS DAY IN WEIRD

On This Day in Weird, July 30...

1975: Former Teamsters union leader Jimmy Hoffa keeps his last lunch date at the Machus Red Fox Restaurant in Bloomfield, Michigan, a Detroit suburb. His expected guests, Mafia leaders Anthony Giacalone and Anthony Provenzano, fail to arrive on schedule, and police find Hoffa's car abandoned at the restaurant, His disappearance and presumed murder remains unsolved today, despite numerous theories and alleged confessions from multiple hitmen.

BIGFOOT IN KENTUCKY

Report updated today.  Video footage.

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NEW ANIMALS DISCOVERED

Ten new animals discovered in 2014.

Olinguito

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PSEUDO-CHUPACABRAS

Article on Blue Dogs miscalled Chupacabras.

[We would like to point out that the ascription of the name chupacabra to canid creatures is an error that has arisen in the media].

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DEER HUNTER ENCOUNTERS BIGFOOT

Report with video recording of deer hunter's shock.

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CONCLUDING "FINDING BIGFOOT" CAUSES OFFENSE

The final Finding Bigfoot program has caused a measure of offense because of jokes related to the name Jesus.

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BIGFOOT DROP-IN DAY

Easton, Massachussetts, is to host a Bigfoot Drop-in Day at the Children's Museum.

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UFOs REPORTED FROM CANADA, GERMANY

Recent UFO reports that have come our way.

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ON THIS DAY IN WEIRD

On This Day in Weird, July 29...

1924: Elizabeth Short—a.k.a. "The Black Dahlia," victim in one of California's most mysterious unsolved murders—born in Hyde Park, Massachusetts.

BEAST OF HOUNDTOR

We're off to the wild and desolate region of Dartmoor, in the south-west of England.  This area, 368 square miles in extent, is noted for its wildness.  It is also famous for its prison.  A strange beast has been reported from Houndtor on Dartmoor.

Dartmoor

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HUGE INSECT DISCOVERED IN CHINA

This large insect is related to the dobsonfly (pictured below)

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ORIGINS OF WEREWOLVES

Theory regarding the origin of the werewolf.

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MOTHMAN ENCOUNTERS

A set of reports of flying cryptids.


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ON THIS DAY IN WEIRD

On This Day in Weird, July 28...

2009: Direct-to-video release of The Land That Time Forgot, based on the 1924 Edgar Rice Burroughs novel of castaways meeting prehistoric monsters and German submariners on an uncharted island in the Bermuda Triangle.

COULD FOX FIND BIGFOOT?

Actress Megan Fox not alone believes in Bigfoot but is sure she could find him.

Megan Fox

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WHAT WAS KASHE HOTAHPALA?

This animal seems to have been a cryptid or creature of Mississippi.  Its upper parts were supposed to look like a human's, the lower like a deer's.  Its visage was scary.  It gave tongue to loud screams.  I surmise that, with a name like that, it was a creature of Native American lore.  But I cannot find out any more about it.  The website whence I took it has vanished like the snows of yesteryear.  Anyone with more information is invited to pass it on.

JASON COLAVITO ON JIM MARRS

Jason Colavito writes about the beliefs of Jim Marrs and extraterrestrials.

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ON THIS DAY ON WEIRD

On This Day in Weird, July 27...

1978: Nine-year-old Donette Henkins sees a "short, hairy, apelike animal with fangs and deep—set eyes" near her home in Ottosen, Iowa.

TEXAS BIGFOOT ENCOUNTER

Palmetto State Park

Report of encounter in Palmetto State Park.



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CHUPACABRA IN UKRAINE?

Is it true that the Chupacabra or some animal with similar habits has been on the rampage in Kiev and other areas?

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OHIO BIGFOOT ATTACK 1869

An account of an attack by a wild huminoid in 19th Century Ohio.

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STRANGE OCCUPIED SPHERES REPORTED

Strange spheres with occupants reported over Russia and Brazil.

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HUMANOIDS OF 2014

Albert Rosales says that 2014 will be the last year of his excellent Humanoid Database.  He has already completed the January section, to which there is a link below.

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BFRO ACCOUNT OF FEBRUARY REPORT

The BFRO have a report on an alleged sighting in February, 2014.




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UFO SIGHTINGS OVER TURKEY, GERMANY AND ELSEWHERE

Some recent reports.



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ON THIS DAY IN WEIRD

On This Day in Weird, July 26...

1984: Iconic ghoul and serial killer Edward Theodore Gein, real-life inspiration for Hollywood's Norman Bates, Leatherface and Buffalo Bill in Silence of the Lambs, dies at a Wisconsin state hospital for the criminally insane, 27 years after his arrest in Plainfield for murder and grave robbing.

IS THERE A REPTILE CITY UNDER L.A.?

Who can really tell what lurks underfoot?

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REPORT OF CANINE HUMANOID

A bipedal yet canine creature reported from Hartland.

Hartland (Wisconsin)

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HAVE YOU SEEN AN ALBAWITCH?

Chickies Rock

Chickies Rock (Pennsylvania) is supposed to have some interesting inhabitants called albawitches.  These are described as humanoid and are said to keep largely to the trees.  They were also supposed to be fond of apples.

Rumor had it that they became extinct in the 19th Century, but they have been reported since then.  They are said to be between 5' and 6' in height and, though described as sticklike, they are covered in hair.

There was an alleged sighting of albawitches in 2002.  However, you don't have to see them to know they are there, according to local folklore.  If you hear a cracking noise in the woods, that is made by albawitches.

PSEUDO-CHUPACABRAS

This tale tells of an alleged Blue Dog miscalled a chupacabras that turned out not to be a chupacabras.

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BIGFOOT SEARCH AT MOSCOW MOUNTAIN - FORTHCOMING?

The Finding Bigfoot team are hoping to film at Moscow Mountain, but, before you think they're off to Russia, the Moscow concerned is the one in Idaho.

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ON THIS DAY IN WEIRD

On This Day in Weird, July 25...

1969: Theatrical premiere of Ray Harryhausen's The Valley of Gwangi, pitting cowboys against prehistoric creatures.

GIRL ATTACKED BY SLENDERMAN VOTARIES SENT PURPLE HEART

A girl attacked by others seeking Slenderman approval has been sent a Purple Heart by an anonymous and extremely generous donor.

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MONSTROUS LIZARD

From the heart of Africa comes this account.

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SIX-LEGGED SNAKE

New Guinea

The island of New Guinea is heavily forested and it might contain just about anything.  There are tribes there that have never seen a white man.  (Is this an advantage?)  The eastern portion contains the sovereign state of Papua-New Guinea.  The western portion is part of Indonesia.

One of the creatures rumored to be on the island is the Six-legged Snake.  This has been reported from Waigeo Island, off the coast of the Indonesian section.  I suspect that behind the report may lie, not an actual snake, but a somewhat serpentine lizard.  Next time you visit Waigeo Island, perhaps you would have a look to see.

MONSTERS FROM SOUTH AMERICA

The Halpen, Shoort and other South American Monsters.  Below is a picture of two men in Shoort costume.

Picture courtesy of Austin Whittall

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MICE GALORE

Mouse

Did you know that the mouse population of the London Underground (subway) is half a million?  Well. you do now.

APE-MEN AND WATER TIGERS

17th Century report of such creatures in South America.

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ON THIS DAY IN WEIRD

On This Day in Weird, July 24...

1851: Troops stationed at a base near San Francisco, California, report blood and chunks of meat falling from a clear sky. The meat, resembling beef, fell in pieces ranging from the size of "a pigeon's egg to that of an orange." The base doctor examined samples and declared them "slightly spoiled."

HAVE ALIENS BEEN KILLING HUMANS?

A feature from Brazil.

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FOLKLORE OF SPIDERS, TOADS AND PLANTAIN

Folklore includes common animals and plants.  This comes from New England.

Spider

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UFO SIGHTINGS OVER CANADA AND U.K.

Reports on recent sightings.



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JOHN TICE SPEAKS

John Tice of the program Mountain Monsters tells of his exploits and speaks concerning Bigfoot.

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BIGFOOT IN THE GARDEN?

Is this evidence of Bigfoot raiding a garden?

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ON THIS DAY IN WEIRD

On This Day in Weird, July 23...

1929: Benito Mussolini's Fascist government bans use of "foreign words" in  Italy.

1993: Theatrical release of the film Coneheads, starring Dan Akroyd and Jane Curtin as extraterrestrials passing unnoticed in modern America.

MOUNT FUJIYAMA LAKE MONSTER

Mount Fujiyama

Did you know Mount Fujiyama in Japan was supposedly home to a lake monster?

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WINGED APE

Up  above you can see some Winged Monkeys from the land of Oz.  But have you ever seen a winged monkey in real life?  In the year 2000 at Tucapol, Chile, a Winged Ape was reported.  It was about 4' in height, it had clawed hands and protruding fangs.  It sounds a fearsome creature.

However, wings on an ape or monkey of the type seen in The Wizard of Oz should not be able to make it fly without defying the laws of physics.  Perhaps their function was to allow it to glide.  From the description, though, I wonder if what was actually seen was some kind of bat.

I hear someone ask, What exactly is the difference between an ape and a monkey?  You have come to the right place, O Inquisitor, for I have the answer to your query.  Basically, a monkey has a tail and an ape hasn't.  The only recognized apes are the gorilla, orang utan, chimpanzee, gibbon and bonobo.  The rock ape of Gibraltar is in fact a monkey.

Once the terms were interchangeable.  If you wanted to refer disparagingly to someone as a monkey, you could call him a jackanapes.  In fact, you still can if you want to.  I have no wish to restrict your freedom.

GOATMAN OF MARYLAND

The Goatman is a creature half man and half goat.  There have been numerous puzzling reports of creatures like this.  Quite a few come from the United States.

Faun (classical goatman)

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PRESENTER OF "FINDING BIGFOOT"

South Dakota presenter Ranae Holland of Finding Bigfoot doesn't believe in Bigfoot.

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ON THIS DAY IN WEIRD

On This Day in Weird, July 22...

1955: Theatrical premiere of Revenge of the Creature, second film in the "Black Lagoon" trilogy, which features a very young (and uncredited) Clint Eastwood in his first Hollywood role.

TACUACHE MONSTER

Robstown, Texas

Robstown, Texas, has a population of 13,000.  It also has a horrid legend.  In Spanish, the word tacuache means an opossum.  In Robstown it can also mean something else.

The legend has it that at some stage a vampire-bat raped a woman.  The woman as a result gave birth to this creature.  It had the woman's face, but so far I have not found out what the rest of it is supposed to look like.  If you know, get in touch.

WISCONSIN WEREWOLVES

Werewolves rumored in Wisconsin.

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MYSTERIES AND ENTITIES FROM PUERTO RICO

Puerto Rico

Reports of entities and a UFO from Puerto Rico.

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ASTONISHING REPORTS FROM PUERTO RICO

El Yunque Forest

The El Yunque rainforest of Puerto Rico seems to be a focus of strange phenomena.  Two almost incredible reports are documented in this article.

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ON THIS DAY IN WEIRD

On This Day in Weird, July 21...

1966: Witness John Osborne sees a Sasquatch approximately seven feet tall on Lulu Island, British Columbia.

NEW SPECIES OF DINOSAUR

A new species of dinosaur with four wings and feathers has been discovered in China.

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HOW TO FIND BIGFOOT IN B.C.

British Columbia

How do you find Bigfoot if you venture into British Columbia?

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