In Catching Cryptids: The Scientific Search for Mysterious Creatures, we take a dive into what cryptids are and if it’s really possible for these legendary creatures to have eluded humans all these years. Fact is, we live in a big world, and there’s plenty of places for animals to hide. Scientists discover hundreds of new species every year. There are animals scientists thought couldn’t be real, like the platypus and komodo dragon, that turned out to be very real, indeed. There’s even animals scientists thought were extinct that decide to appear after decades or hundreds of years.
Advances in wildlife science have been a game changer. We now have an ability to track, locate, and pinpoint an animal’s home like never before. Join the expedition as we expllore how this new tech can lead us to discover what cryptids or unidentified species may really exist.
Here’s a glimpse of the case files of three cryptids examined more closely in the book.
The AHOOL is a monstrous-sized bat living in the Java Rainforest in Indonesia. It got its name from locals who described its screeching call as ahOOOoool!!
Description:
• Size of a 1-year-old child (about 26-30 inches tall) with a wingspan of up to 12 feet.
• Short, dark gray fur;
• Flattened forearms supporting its wings;
• Large black eyes; and
• Monkey-like head.
Special skills:
Able to grab fish out of the river with its claws.
Search protocol includes discussion of the following tech:
* Bat detectors
* Weather radar
* Species distribution modeling
The BEAST OF BUSCO is a gigantic turtle living in a farmer’s pond in Churubusco, Indiana.
Description:
• Six feet long;
• Five feet wide; and
• Shell the size of a dining room table or the top of a car.
Special skills:
Able to avoid numerous ploys to catch him, including stakes, chicken wire, dynamite, divers walking across the bottom of the lake, and a 225-pound female sea turtle brought in to tempt him out of the water.
Search protocol includes discussion of the following tech:
* Environmental DNA collection
* Field research team
The KRAKEN is an enormous sea monster first documented off the coasts of Norway in 1180.
Description:
• Huge tentacled beast resembling an octopus or squid;
• Able to wrangle its arms around entire ships; and
• Blackens the sea with dark liquid during attacks.
Special skills:
Submerging itself into the water, which, due to its size, creates a maelstrom (massive whirlpool) that drags down ships so it can then feast on fleeing sailors.
Search protocol includes discussion of the following tech:
* Electronic jellyfish lure
* Stealth camera system like the Medusa, which is used to view the giant squid
