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BRITISH BIG CAT TALES :. |
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CARCASS OF MYSTERY BEAST WASHES ASHORE ON ENGLISH BEACH |
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Fevered rumours that a monster-like carcass found washed up on a Devon beach were the remains of the Beast of Exmoor have been dismissed.
The grizzly remains were found by a passer-by in Croyde Bay last Tuesday and the local police force was alerted.
The decomposing remains were said to be ‘the size of a calf’ with ‘massive canine teeth’.
Various national newspapers and media pundits claimed that it could have been the cadaver of the infamous beast, which some believe is a free-roaming panther.
The Centre for Fortean Zoology, the world’s largest mystery animal research organisation, took the ‘beast’s’ skull away for examination.
And much to the dismay of beast believers, the five-foot long carcass was found to be a grey seal.
Centre director Jon Downes said: “The story is solved and we are now in the position to be able to state this as incontrovertible fact.
“The CFZ went out and got the skull and will be keeping it in our museum because of the minor position which it will always hold in the history of cryptozoology.”
Zoologist and author of on-line blog Tetrapod Zoology Darren Naish agreed with the conclusion.
“The nasal bones are unusually short in the specimen and the nasal cavity is very deep, giving the snout a steep, sawn-off look. Short nasals and a deep nasal cavity are both characteristics of the grey seal.
“The skull definitely belongs to that taxon, case closed.”
Mr Downes added: “I think it’s amazing when people jump to conclusions, I mean, it had flippers! But I rather enjoyed it and thought it was quite good fun.”
For more information on the work of the Centre for Fortean Zoology.
(Original headline: Animal's carcass not Exmoor Beast )
.:Story originally published by:.
thisisthewestcountry: / England | Lloyd Vaughan - Jan 13.2009
For years there have been reports of it roaming the wide open spaces of Exmoor, devouring sheep and terrorising farmers.
But it would seem that the mythical Beast of Exmoor might have savaged its last after a body of an unidentified large animal was found washed up on a north Devon beach.
Police raced to the popular surfing beach of Croyde where the carcass of an animal 'the size of a calf with canine teeth' was spotted by a member of the public.
Sgt Pearce, one of the two policeman who arrived at the beach, said: 'We were told it looked like a big black cat, but we were not sure if we had been sent on a wild beast chase.'
His colleague said: 'It's a good five feet long, and it's got black fur. It certainly looks quite beast-like with those teeth.'
Sgt Pearce added: 'It almost definitely looks like it could be a beast of Exmoor.'
He said: 'It's only about five miles away to Exmoor by sea, it could easily have floated down.'
The officers contacted Environmental Health and RUDA Holiday Park, which is owned by Parkdean Holidays which also owns the beach, as well as the RSPCA.
Experts are still trying to identify the carcass.
Sightings of the Beast of Exmoor first began in the 1970s but the legendary big cat only came to public attention in 1983 when a farmer reported 100 sheep had been killed.
Various reports through the years describe the Beast as looking like a large black panther or puma.
In response to an increase in the amount of livestock that was being killed, the Ministry of Agriculture ordered the Royal Marines to Exmoor in 1984 with instructions to shoot the creature.
But while some soldiers reported having spotted the animal loping across the moors no shots were fired and the number of attacks dwindled.
The Government continued to study the problem into the mid-1990s, before finally concluding that the Beast was either a hoax or myth.
A survey by the British Big Cats Society reported more than 2,000 suspected sightings between 2004 and 2005.
It is thought the cats were released into the wild in the 1970s following a crackdown in the law in keeping wild animals.
Mark Fraser, founder of Big Cats in Britain, said: 'Big cats are not down every country lane and round every street
(Original headline: Is this the Beast of Exmoor? Body of mystery animal washes up on beach )
.:Story originally published by:.
Daily Mail: London / England | Niall Firth - Jan 08.2009
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