Cryptozoology and Unconfirmed Species

Many may confidently imagine, that with our advanced technologies and ever growing body of scientific knowledge, we must certainly know everything there is to know about our planet and its many inhabitant species.

This somewhat smug attitude causes many (scientist and non-scientist) to scoff at the notion that creatures such as the Loch Ness Monster, a Sasquatch, or some other here-to-fore unknown creature could ever possibly exist. For centuries credible (and of course sometimes questionable) witnesses have reported encounters with or sightings of unusual creatures.

If these were singular, isolated incidents, certainly that would be cause for great skepticism and doubt. The persistence or reoccurrence of these incidents in the same geographic location should however, cause people to consider . . ."what if?"

Interestingly enough, it is the advancement of science and technology, coupled with our increased mobility that is changing the equation . . . new species 'are' being discovered by our scientists and field researchers at an increasing rate right under our noses, right here on Earth?

More and more frequently we are finding situations where once mythical creatures are proven reality (e.g. The Giant Squid) or once believed prehistoric creatures (e.g. the Coelacanth) are proven to still exist.

The Minnesota Iceman Controversy

During the later part of 1968 a man-like creature frozen in a block of ice and touted as a “missing link” was temporarily displayed at a few carnivals and fairs around Winona County, Minnesota, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The anatomy of the creature was unquestionably human-like and male. It was covered with dark brown hair and had unusually large hands and feet, and was approximately 6 ft tall.

It had a flattened nose and one of its eyes missing from its socket, allegedly by a bullet that was supposed to have entered the animal's head from behind. It has been suggested by some that the creature was a genuine Yeti (or Bigfoot) and that was killed in the mountains of Vietnam or Cambodia during the war and somehow shipped (smuggled?) back to the United States.

If it could be proven genuine, the iceman specimen would be one of the most significant zoological discoveries in history of the planet. A great deal of controversy exists over the genuineness of this specimen.

The iceman was examined extensively by two scientists, Ivan Sanderson and Bernard Heuvelmans. The two concluded that the iceman was a real human-like creature and cited deterioration and rotting where the flesh had been exposed by melting patches of ice. In a published scientific paper, Heuvelmans named the creature Homo pongoides, as a new species with Neanderthal affinities. Sanderson developed magazine articles and appeared on television to speak about the iceman.

The Smithsonian Institution was allegedly interested in furthering an investigation.
Shortly thereafter, the iceman was withdrawn from public display. Several mainstream scientists have labeled the iceman a hoax, however it should be pointed out that these are scientists offering opinion without the benefit of ‘firsthand’ examination.

Articles by: Dr. Von Zuko 2007©