Word
of the Day
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| Famous cryptozoologists. |
In the 6th grade I learned this word
and instantly wanted it to be my profession. I was still naive and wanted to
believe in the possibilities left to be discovered. I thought of traveling to
far off places, tracking down the elusive and undiscovered and becoming a
zoological hero.
Then as I got older, wiser and more
literal, I realized how silly my dream had been. Furthermore, people with this
profession are generally viewed by skeptics, such as myself, as buffoons and
eccentrics. Basically, only an idiot would call themselves a member of this
profession and really mean it. I wanted to be a cryptozoologist.
cryptozoology [krip-toh-zo-ol-uh-jee]
noun
The study of evidence
that would seem to point to the existence of, or lead to a search for,
creatures whose existence is unproved, such as the Abominable Snowman or the
Loch Ness Monster.
 |
| The dread macarena monster. |
cryptid [krip-tid]
noun
Is a creature or
plant, whose existence is suggested, but is not recognized by science.
The famous bigfoot
picture? I'm 100% positive its a guy in a gorilla suit. The loch ness still?
The photgrapher's son admitted on his death bed it was a modified toy
submarine. So, cryptozoology is filled with lots of lies and mysteries. But
that doesn't mean everyone out there is an evil poacher hoping to get rich off
the wishful thinking of others. Sometimes it pays of. For example, the Giant
Panda.
"What?" You
say? Pandas were cryptids? That's right, for years the West heard myths of
these creatures and even saw hides. But it wasn't until Mrs. William Harkness,
found a cub sleeping in a tree and brought it to Chicago in 1937 that the
creature was recognized as existing.
That's right, pandas.
Those adorable, fluffy, endangered (rightfully so), evolved into a dead-end,
cuddly-wuddly, racoons bears once stood side by side with other crytpids. Other
animals believed to be a myth but discovered were the okapi, the megamouth
shark, the colecanth, the King Cheetah, the Mountain Gorilla and many more
animals that science hadn't recognized. Considered to be the symbol of all
cryptids was the coelacanth, a living fossil found alive in 1938 off the coast
of South Africa. But the cryptid that finally proved its existance and stands
tentacles above the rest is the Giant Squid!
The photo to the right
is an amazing picture captured a few years ago. It proves that the giant squid
is out there!
But here is the thing,
I am a skeptic. I don't believe in big foot, plesiosaurs, ghosts, vampires,
chupacabras or any of that nonsense. But sometimes...sometimes I believe in
Gigantopithcus.
 |
Gigantopithcus blacki
|
The largest primate
that ever lived, some cryptozoologists believe it is possible that he is still
out there. In fact, even most respected zoologists agree it is possible for
there to be another large primate undiscovered, and there are few better places
to hide that South East Asia.
The idea of a giant
orangutan that is about 8 feet tall when standing on its back legs, with
muscles that could tear a car apart and the sharp but gentle mind of a primate
is exciting.
Do I think it exists?
Not really. But sometimes...I believe.
