There are a lot of unexplained things that enter our lives. Whether the monsters under our closet or the creatures in our beds we seek to explain what we can’t understand. When I was a young lad, I too went searching for those creatures that haunted my nightmares, hoping to find answers. Little did I know, there is a whole section of science dedicated to this: Cryptozoology.
Before I move on I'd like to define a few terms. Cryptozoology is the study of and searches for animals and especially legendary animals, usually in order to evaluate the possibility of their existence. As well, cryptids are the animals and creatures studied in cryptozoology.
Though cryptozoology is a science, it can also be seen as a culture in itself. Dr. Darren Naish, a former researcher at the University of Portsmouth, talks about this in his book “Hunting Monsters: Cryptozoology and the Reality Behind the Myths." He states that even if cryptids are not biologically “real” (to which there isn’t any solid evidence either way) they are still real in a cultural sense.
What he means is that as people see, investigate, and react these cryptids become part of the oral tradition of the culture.
The first cryptid I would like to discuss is Bigfoot. There are many legends of origin, but the most common are that he was a man who, after doing evil, was cursed and had to hide from humanity. A lot of scientists believe that Bigfoot could be a primate that we have already discovered, but had thought had gone extinct. A lot of this stems from the first evidence of Bigfoot being faked; which doesn't discredit the future evidence that was found.
The next cryptid I would like to discuss is another well-known creature, the Loch Ness Monster; also known as Nessie. Nessie is a large, prehistoric, aquatic animal found in Loch Ness. In modern culture, there is a phrase that can be equated to the evidence we have of Nessie: Pics or it didn't happen; this is because all we have is photographic evidence. The media is a big factor in the spread and love for Nessie; though skeptics believe that all accounts can be explained by inanimate objects or other animals.
The last cryptid we will be discussing is the Mothman of Point Pleasant. His origin stems from two love bird young adults were driving down the street, and were not alone. As well, the biggest part of the Mothman legend is that whenever he is seen horrible things will happen. This disastrous claim is backed by the fact that after being photographed on a bridge, the bridge collapsed killing 46 people in 1978. All of this led to many movies, comics, and tv shows being focused on and parodying the Mothman.
In conclusion, no matter how much you think cryptozoology is a pseudo-science, it is an area of study that is here to stay. And cryptids like Bigfoot, Nessie, and the Mothman are only the gateway into the deep field that is Cryptozoology; a field propelled by modern media. So put on your binoculars, lace up your hiking boots, and let’s go hunt for the truth!
