22-01-2003 "Expedition a great success", say monster hunters

For immediate release:
2003-01-22
"Expedition a great success", say MONSTER HUNTERS

The four-man investigation team at from the Exeter-based Centre for Fortean Zoology have returned to base following a week-long expedition to rural Northumberland to investigate reports of a Yeti like creature seen roaming the woods around Bolam Lake.

"The expedition was a success far beyond our wildest dreams", said expedition leader Jonathan Downes, (43) " Not only did we conduct a thorough photographic and electromagnetic survey of the area, but we interviewed at all but one of the witnesses. However the most exciting thing to have happened during our sojourn at the lake was that five people - at the same time - saw the beast. I was one of those people."

Since the news broke on Monday, various reports, both in newspapers and on the Internet have published wildly inaccurate accounts of what happened. "What I actually saw was a dark, man shaped object approximately seven and a half feet tall. It had a barrel chest and thick muscular arms and legs." says Jonathan. "I had a very clear sighting, but despite reports in the press I saw no glowing eyes and was not able to tell whether or not it was covered in hair". The sighting took place at approximately 5:15pm on Saturday 18th January.

When asked whether the creature seen could have been an unknown species of giant ape similar to the Yeti of the Himalayas, expedition zoologist Richard Freeman, said: "It is completely impossible for an unknown species of higher primate to live undetected in these woods. It seems certain to me that what ever it is that it can these witnesses have seen - it is not a flesh-and-blood creature".

Over the years the Centre for Fortean Zoology have carried out a great deal of research into Zooform Phenomena. These are things, which appear to be animals but which upon investigation turn out to be nothing of the kind - and are not even animate in the true sense of the word. The term covers a wide range of different phenomena, which embrace the worlds of psychology, psychiatry, forensic medicine, sociology, history, and even what is broadly known as "the occult". This is only the beginning of a year-long investigation into similar things seen all over the United Kingdom. " Although our initial investigations have been very interesting" says Jonathan Downes, " it is far too early to make an attempt at a definitive conclusion!"

The Twilight Worlds paranormal research group based in South Tyneside have also been investigating the phenomenon and have collaborated with the team from the CFZ on some of the investigations. They have obtained photographs of what appear to be large naked footprints in the snow at Bolam woods.

NOTES FOR EDITORS:
· The giant ape is a legend found in many countries most famously the Yeti of Asia but few realise that our tiny, overcrowded island is home to such a tradition. In the dark ages such figures were referred to as trolls (via Norse influence) or Woodwoses (from Anglo-Saxon). They are found in folktales right across Europe. The Wildman was a familiar figure in the mumming plays of medieval times, but could these stories have some substance behind them?
a.. The idea of such creatures in the forests of sub-tropical Asia or even the woods of Canada is not too far fetched. Indeed some of the Asian man beasts have been backed up by hair, bone and scat samples. Many zoologists believe the creatures to be descendents of a species of giant ape, Gigantopithecus blackii, thought extinct since the last Ice Age. The fossils of this giant have been uncovered since then in China and India but are unknown in Europe. If such huge primates had ever lived in our country it would be likely that they would have been hunted to extinction along with the bear and the wolf.
· The CFZ team intend to follow up their investigations in a Northumberland with expeditions to Sussex and to Sherwood Forest to investigate other recent sightings of similar phenomena.
· 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. Full biographies of Expedition members together with their media CVs can be found on the site.
· Pictures of the expedition members are available.
· C F Z director Jonathan Downes has written numerous books on the subject of mystery animals. The latest, entitled The monster of the Mere, recounts the 2002 expedition in the search of a giant fish in a Lancashire lake. He is also the author of two highly acclaimed books on Zooform Phenomena; The Owlman and Others and The Rising of the Moon.
a.. 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Please feel free to contact Richard or Jonathan