Want LLL Monsters Outside the International Cryptozoology Museum, an eight-foot, replica Bigfoot stands gu Glancing around the two rooms, visitors see plaster casts of Bigfoot and Yeti footprints samples and a life-size model of a coelacanth*. Most of the 2,300 specimens of the weird wonderful that can be found here come from the personal collection of Loren Coleman, museum's owner and the world's leading cryptozoologist. 1 What incr 2 A be every day Pr audio tapes of screeches, videos and photos. Not surprisingly, Loren is often the first person TV producers turn to when they want an experto the unexplained. He holds a BA in Zoology and Anthropology, an MA in Social Work and has do post-graduate work in Sociology and Anthropology. His opinion is valued because even though firmly believes cryptids exist, he still demands hard evidence. "Until I have a hair sample or foot or twisted branch, I'm really kind of sceptical," he says. "80% of all accounts are ordinary animat Unconvinced, he set about finding all there was to know about legendary beasts such as ye after seeing a documentary on Yetis, but his teacher told him that it was all just nonsen Loren first became fascinated by the study of cryptids or 'hidden animals' as a twelve-year lake monsters, giant snakes and chupacabras. His interest led to a lifelong passion for monste hunting and cryptozoology. To date, he has written over 30 books and has spent countless hou travelling and camping out all over the American continent and abroad, interviewing witnesses a examining possible evidence of cryptids' existence such as footprints, hair samples, scratche 3 yesteday Po A B tomorrowt 4 a few fakes, a few hoaxes. But it's that 20% of unknowns that keeps me going." A particular interest of Coleman's is one of the most famous cryptids of all, Bigfoot or Sasquat which is said to inhabit forests mainly in the North-western United States. He believes that there lots of convincing evidence of its existence, including the famous 1967 Patterson-Grimlin footage: a Bigfoot walking into the forest. Despite many people claiming they were 'the person in the sur Loren points out that the creature walks the way an ape does, with little mobility in the hips and nec So why hasn't anyone found a real Bigfoot yet? Well, Loren points out that, until 150 years ago. was believed by most in the western world that mountain gorillas didn't exist and before that t giant panda was virtually unknown. Tales of sightings were taken with a pinch of salt; they wer thought to be legends told by native tribes. Respected scientists had to change their opinions though, when these creatures were found high up in the mountains and deep in the forests. Simila the coelacanth is a huge 1.5-metre-long fish that was thought to have become extinct about million years ago until it was rediscovered in 1938. But no one had mentioned this to islanders in th Indian Ocean, who had been happily eating it for ages! So if a fish from prehistoric times is s swimming around, why can't Bigfoot and other strange creatures be hidden away in a fos somewhere? Loren argues that cryptids are not monsters at all, just species of animal that are few number, live far from human settlements and are highly secretive.... Cryptozoology is definitely Loren's life, but has he ever seen a cryptid himself? He admits that one dark night on the way home, he glimpsed a large panther-like creature, but he's reluctant to cal a cryptid. "Western science decides if animals exist or don't exist," he says. Loren isn't trying prove anything to the world, he just wants to find out the truth. 5 4 A 8 C D