At the beginning of the 21st Century monsters still roam the remote, and sometimes not so remote, corners of our planet. It is our job to search for them. The Centre for Fortean Zoology [CFZ] is - we believe - the largest professional, scientific and full-time organisation in the world dedicated to cryptozoology - the study of unknown animals. Since 1992 the CFZ has carried out an unparalleled programme of research and investigation all over the world. Since 2009 we have been running the increasingly popular CFZ Blog Network, and although there has been an American branch of the CFZ for over ten years now, it is only now that it has a dedicated blog.

Wednesday 30 September 2015

ORANG PENDEK - INDONESIAN CRYPTID

This is a cryptid whose existence is almost established.


Above: map of Sumatra

now read on.....

WAS MERMAN CAPTURED IN POLAND?

Article and video.





watch/read on....

BIGFOOT HUNTERS FIND INTERESTING ANIMAL IN CALIFORNIA

But it isn't Bigfoot.

now read on.....

UFO EPISODE - NEARLY 150 YEARS AGO

Not all reports date from modern times.



now read on....

HORNED RATS

I see from Richard Muirhead's Flying Snake that horned rats turn up from time to time.  These are not a discrete species, they are just ordinary rats with horns.  One was reported in Kansas in 1907.  A year earlier one was killed in England and subsequently stuffed.

ON THIS DAY IN WEIRD


On This Day in Weird, September 30...

2006: Two hunters report strange smells, howls, and wood-knocking sounds from a remote area of Taos County, New Mexico. They report it to the GCBRO as a possible Bigfoot encounter on November 1.


Tuesday 29 September 2015

MBIELU-MBIELU-MBIELU

This cryptid is said to resemble the Stegosaurus.

Stegosaurus


now read on.....


WEIRD ENCOUNTER IN PENNSYLVANIA


A manlike being and a deerlike animal.


now read on....

YEREN - THE WILDMAN OF CHINA

A look at one of the lesser-known wildmen.

now read on.....

This video shows a film of a creature supposed to be the hybrid of a human and a yeren.

now read on.....

PEOPLE AND LIZARDS ON MARS?

After NASA's recent announcement about the evidence for water on Mars, it has now been thought by one writer that

Mars

there may be more than water.


now read on....

HUMAN ANCESTORS' HEARING

That the ancestors of humans heard things differently from us has been determined by study of the structure of the ear.





now read on.....

ON THIS DAY IN WEIRD


On This Day in Weird, September 29...

1974: Madame Le Bihan of Riec-sur-Belon, in the Finistere Department of France, reports sighting a "brilliantly lighted" dome-shaped UFO with portholes, swaying back and forth near ground level. Nearby, three stocky humanoids with round heads and silver outfits, each about 5½ feet tall, walk "heavily," rocking back and forth as they move.


Monday 28 September 2015

REGARDING THE RUSALKA

Recently we gave some information about rusalkas, folkloric creatures of Eastern Europe.  We have now come to an encounter that happened to no less a person than Russian novelist Ivan Turgenev (1818-96).  Turgenev was swimming in a river when he was suddenly touched from behind.  It was a humanoid, clearly female which touched him on the shoulder.  She in some ways resembled of a monkey or ape.  She had long unkempt hair.  Turgenev fled and she pursued him, laughing and touching him from behind.

Turgenev did not pause to don his clothing, but fled.

This incident occurred in the Desna River, Ukraine, which was in a much forested area.


Rusalka and swimmer



SURROUNDED BY BIGFEET

Researcher claims Bigfoot noises were on all sides.

IS THIS THE SOUND OF THE YOWIE?

A recording is claimed to be the sound of Yowies humming.

Yowie


now read on.....

FLYING HUMANOID IN PENNSYLVANIA

Report of sighting of very curious creature by witnesses in Littlestown.


Littlestown


now read on.....

A CHAT WITH CADBOROSAURUS

Dialogue and reflection in a Canadian tavern.

now read on....

ON THIS DAY IN WEIRD


On This Day in Weird, September 28...

Another personal note today, as my most recent cryptozoology book, Seeking Bigfoot, officially drops on Amazon. I've listed six new copies for sale at $10.50, which is 42% off the new retail price and 52% off Amazon's reduced price. Needless to say, I recommend grabbing one while they last. Aside from an introductory chapter on "classic" cases for beginners, the book focuses entirely on Bigfoot events, sightings, hoaxes, scientific claims, and media events recorded since the beginning of the 21st century. Lavishly illustrated and none other like it presently available to my knowledge.


Sunday 27 September 2015

DO ALIENS CONTROL MINDS DURING ABDUCTIONS?

This article takes a look.



We're in conrol!


now read on.....


ROBOTIC COCKROACH

Who said the progress of science had slowed down?

now read on.....

FLYING SNAKE

I feel I should give a plug to an excellent little Fortean magazine called Flying Snake issued by Richard Muirhead, a zealous CFZ member.  It contains a great deal of material and is priced at merely £3.99 (=about $7.95).  It may be ordered from:

Flying Snake, 112 High Street, Macclesfield, SK11 7QQ, UK.

ON THIS DAY IN WEIRD


On This Day in Weird, September 27...

1854: The French UFO "flap" continues with a sighting by witness Raymond Romand at Premanon, in the Jura Department, at 8:30 p.m. He describes a "fiery ball" hovering over a meadow, with two "squarish" beings below it on legs. A child hurls pebbles that strike the craft with a metallic sound. Police discover a 12-foot circle of flattened grass at the site.


Saturday 26 September 2015

JACKALOPE

The Jackalope is well known to cryptozoologists, but it is generally admitted it is a fictitious beast.  It is a hare with antlers growing from its head.  Some suspect it was invented by a man named Douglas Herrick in quite modern times.  He was supposed to have made a Jackalope by taxidermy in 1934.

However, such creatures were also the object of belief in Germany.  Conrad Gesner, the 15th Century zoologist, believed in it, as did the French zoologist Buffon.  In Germany the horned hare was called a Raurackl or Wolpertinger.  The Germans also believed in a horned rabbit called a Rasselbock.  How come the same creature flourished in the lore of both countries?

The answer may be quite simple.  There is a disease to which hares are susceptible called Shope papilloma, which causes antler-like tumors to grow on the head.  In this we may have the origin of the belief on both sides of the Atlantic.




GRUNCH ROAD MONSTER

This monster of New Orleans has been compared to the Chupacabra, but I am not at all sure they are even related....if it exists.

now read on.....

DOGMAN IN MARYLAND

The canine creature is said to have been seen near Frederick.

now read on.....

BIGFOOT'S NOCTURNAL MEANDER

By night he is said to wander by Smith Mountain Lake.

Smith Mountain Lake
now read on....

ON THIS DAY IN WEIRD


On This Day in Weird, September 26...

1954: A Madame Leboeuf of Chabeuil, in the Drôme Department of southeastern France, reports a UFO sighting at 4 p.m. She describes a flat, circular craft with one large-eyed humanoid creature about three feet tall, clad in a "diving suit" and helmet, that moved in her direction before she fled with her dog. Police find a circle of crushed foliage at the site.


Friday 25 September 2015

TWO-HEADED LAKE MONSTER

A sighting reported from Loch Urabhal (in English, Uravel) in Scotland.

Loch Urabhal


now read on.....

CHINA'S HOPPING VAMPIRE

The Jiang Shi, a vampire in Chinese folklore.

EXTRAORDINARY STORY FROM WARTIME POLAND

A fake typhus epidemic kept the Nazis at bay.

now read on.....

TUG OF WAR WITH BIGFOOT

This incident occurred at Tabiona Swells, Utah.

Add caption


now read on.....

MEGALANIA CONTEMPORARY WITH HUMANS

Australia's huge lizard was alive at the time Aborigines were in Australia.  Cryptozoologists must ask: Did they ever die out?


Megalania skeleton



now read on.....

ON THIS DAY IN WEIRD


On This Day in Weird, September 25...

1978: While investigating a disturbance among her chickens and horses, Barbara Megli of Brookings, Oregon, allegedly sees Bigfoot standing in a nearby cleraing.


Thursday 24 September 2015

FROG FALLS - WHAT CAUSES THEM?

Brek-ek-ek coax coax coax.  You will perhaps recognize this as the Croaking Chorus from Aristophanes'  Frogs.



now read on.....


NEBRASKA RIVER MONSTER

The Uncegila featured in the legends of the Sioux..

now read on.....

WAS THIS A PET GRIFFIN?

Did Griffins really exist and was there a tame one in Egypt?

now read on.....

OREGON BIGFOOT EXPERIENCE

Man claims Bigfoot sighting.



now read on.....

WILL BACTERIA LEAD TO ELIXIR OF LIFE?

Russian scientists on the trail of longevity.

now read on.....

1954 ENCOUNTER WITH POSSIBLE EXTRATERRESTRIALS

Of course, we cannot tell if these creatures were extraterrestrials, ultraterrestrials or something else.  The encounter allegedly took place at Ceninna, Italy.

Picture courtesy Lon Strickler


now read on.....

HONOBIA BIGFOOT FESTIVAL

The Honobia (Oklahoma) Bigfoot Festival will be held in early October.



now read on.....

ON THIS DAY IN WEIRD


On This Day in Weird, September 24...

2014: Sunset magazine features Dr. Jeffrey Meldrum in an article on "Finding Bigfoot." You can read the full article here: http://westphoria.sunset.com/2014/09/24/searching-for-bigfoot/

Wednesday 23 September 2015

NEW CFZ PUBLICATION




This new publication is a guide to unusual sights to be seen in England's West Country.

Written by Paul Jackson and Andrew May

198pp.                       $18.99                         UK: £12.25

Kindle Price: $5.02

BEWARE OF THE RUSALKA

If you should happen to be in the east of Europe, the Rusalka is something better avoided.  A rusalka is a female spirit, found in the water.   She will entice men to join her in the water to drown them.  She is also known to tickle both men and women to death.  Rusalkas are usually very beautiful, with green hair.  You may sometimes see them dancing in the grain, which increases productivity.  Rusalkas are said to be under the control of vodyanies, who are male and may eat you if you drown.  Bear all this in mind if you venture into Eastern Europe and like to perambulate along river banks.


During Green Week (early June) rusalkas were said to perch in trees and to be very dangerous.

Rusalka

BIGFOOT WITH BABY

A woman in Virginia claims to have seen a Bigfoot carrying a baby - a baby Bigfoot, that is.



now read on.....

1897 PIXY SIGHTING

What was it Mrs Herbert saw?

now read on.....

MEDICATION FOR SEA-OTTER

The sea-otter in question suffers from asthma but uses an inhaler.

This link contains a video.

sea otter



watch and read.....

SOME MYSTERY CREATURES

Includes the Cape Cod Creature.

Cape Cod (sattelite image)

now read on.....

CAN SASQUATCH SPEAK?

Do sound recordings indicate the Hairy One can converse?



now read on.....

ON THIS DAY IN WEIRD


On This Day in Weird, September 23...

2009: Four men in Vernon Parish, Louisiana, hear an "ungodly loud howl/roar" from some nearby woods, reminding them of an artificial "Bigfoot call" recently tested on the TV series MonsterQuest. They are frightened by see nothing prior to leaving the scene. One waits five years before reporting the event to the GCBRO's website, while the other three still refuse to discuss it.


Tuesday 22 September 2015

KELPIES AND WATER-HORSES

Lake creatures of the Scottish lochs, including the dangerous Kelpie.



now read on.....

REDFERN AND THE BRITISH BIGFOOT

Nick Redfern has done sundry research into the reports of a British Bigfoot.


now read on......

And now for the second part of his article.

Nick Redfern

now read on.....

HOW HIGH IS A BIGFOOT?

The height of the creature in the Patterson-Gimlin film.



now read on....

PREHISTORIC ANIMALS - STILL LIVING?

Do prehistoric animals still survive?



now read on.....

ON THIS DAY IN WEIRD



On This Day in Weird, September 22...

First, playing catch-up from yesterday, as I unaccountably missed the birthdays of H. G. Wells (1886) and Stephen King (1941). Mea culpa, fright fans!

As for today in history...

1965: Two couples parked in a "lover's lane" called Montezuma Hills, outside Decatur, Illinois, report a "massive, black manlike shape" traipsing around their car in the darkness, emitting a foul odor. The witnesses flee and contact police, whose search of the area turns up nothing.

Monday 21 September 2015

WILDMEN OF PATAGONIA

Ogres of South America.



now read on.....

BEAST OF GARLOLL

Hector Boece, 16th Century Scottish writer, tells of this anomalous beast.

Hector Boece


now read on.....

URSINE SNOOZE

A bear cub was found having a snooze in a pizzeria in Colorado.



now read on.....

DINOSAURS IN PNG?

Creatures like dinosaurs reported from Papua-New Guinea.



now read on.....

DEADWOOD SIGHTING OF BIGFOOT

This sighting was reported by loggers.



now read on.....

ON THIS DAY IN WEIRD



On This Day in Weird, September 21...

1967: Jose Edrosa of Barcelona, Spain, reports a UFO encounter occurring at 12:30 a.m. He claims to have seen a "brilliant round object" grounded at roadside, surrounded by small humanoids with large heads, dressed in white clothing. When the UFO took off, Edrosa's car was briefly "lifted," leaving him in "severe shock."


Sunday 20 September 2015

RIVER CONWY MONSTER

What was the legendary monster of the River Conwy in Wales?


River Conwy

now read on.....

UNICORN HUNT IN AFRICA

The Khoi-Khoi (aka Hottentots) gave this account of the beast in question.



now read on.....

HAVE YOU SEEN MOTHMAN?

Alleged eyewitness accounts.

Image courtesy Lon Strickler


now read on.....

ON THIS DAY IN WEIRD


On This Day in Weird, September 20...

2011: A fisherman in Webster Parish, Louisiana, reports "a scream, holler, roar sound" of unknown origin, accompanied by a sense of being watched, which prompted him to flee the area. Eleven days later he reports it to the GCBRO as a possible Bigfoot encounter.