07-10-2005 Monster hunters' snappy visit

For Immediate Release
07 October 2005
MONSTER HUNTERS' SNAPPY VISIT

When a crocodile was reported in a Cornish pond this week representatives of the world's largest and fastest growing mystery animal research group hurried to the scene.

This week the news services were ablaze with reports that a "small crocodile" had been sighted in a pond at St Blazey in southern Cornwall. Stacey Clayton (20) said: "I noticed this big log in the water, but as I got closer I saw its eyes. I wasn't sure whether it was alive so I threw a stone near it. It lifted its head and looked straight at me. I saw its tail and a dozen teeth coming down from its top jaw. I went home and called the RSPCA. My dad said it was probably a caiman."

Chris Moiser and Richard Freeman from the Centre for Fortean Zoology went straight to the pond, unpacked a boat and nets and - together with a representative from Newquay Zoo - searched the area thoroughly. Richard Freeman has plenty of experience with crocodilians. He was head reptile keeper at Twycross Zoo for some years, and has recently written about giant crocodiles in his new book "Dragons:More than a Myth". Chris Moiser says: "It is possible that the lake could form a home for a small crocodilid for some months during the Summer. Because of the density of the undergrowth it is possible that the animal could have remained undiscovered for some time. Any crocodilid that is present will almost certainly die quickly, if not already dead, as a result of the cold. The size of the lake, and the sheltered nature of the streams that feed into and out of it are such that an illegal deposit of an animal would have been relatively easy".

This is the third time in recent years that the CFZ have been called in to investigate crocodile sightings. Reports from Staffordshire and Gloucestershire in 2003 can be found on their website.

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

+ The Centre for Fortean Zoology is a non profit-making organisation, which was founded in 1992. Over the last 11 years we have mounted expeditions to Central America, Thailand, Mexico, various parts of the United States, as well as numerous investigations in the UK. Further information on the CFZ can be found on their website, www.cfz.org.uk.
+ C F Z director Jonathan Downes has written numerous books on the subject of mystery animals. The latest, entitled `Monster Hunter` is his long awaited autobiography.
+ The honorary life President of the Centre for Fortean Zoology is renowned explorer, author and soldier Colonel John Blashford-Snell OBE, best known for his pioneering Operation Drake and Operation Raleigh expeditions during the 1970s.
+ The CFZ is looking for corporate and private sponsors
+ Pictures to accompany this story are available on request