ANOMALOUS OBSERVATIONAL PHENOMENA: Can we stop another unscientific cull of badgers?

ANOMALOUS OBSERVATIONAL PHENOMENA: Can we stop another unscientific cull of badgers?: I'm a naturalist so sorry if this annoys anyone but this is serious. Save Me IMPLEMENTATION OF BADGER CULLS CONFIRMED BY T...

Can we stop another unscientific cull of badgers?

I'm a naturalist so sorry if this annoys anyone but this is serious.

Save Me

IMPLEMENTATION OF BADGER CULLS CONFIRMED BY THE GOVERNMENT

It was a black day on Tuesday for animals, for Science and for humanity.

Caroline Spelman made the speech which all of us knew she would eventually make, confirming this Government’s decision to instigate ‘pilot culls’ of badgers. It is typical of the way this administration has operated, that the announcement was made at a time apparently deliberately unspecified, on almost the last day of this Parliamentary session, making it as difficult as possible for a response to be made.



The whole conduct of this business has been shady and shameful. DEFRA have gone through the motions of a consultation, but they made the questions almost impossible to answer in a critical way, and then they ignored the findings anyway. It has become more and more apparent that this Government is determined to kill badgers, no matter what. In going down this road they have totally ignored a large majority of public opinion, the advice of all independent scientific commentators, and any moral considerations whatsoever. The decision panders to the extreme end of the farming community, the very element that helped put this Government in power. Although legions of other, well informed farmers are also against this cull and in favour of pursuing the vaccination route, together with strict adherence to stringent cattle controls, their voices are likewise being ignored.



From a scientist’s point of view, this is painful to watch. The whole meaning of the word Science has been trampled upon by these people. They keep talking about a “science-led cull” and saying “the Science tells us …” It’s a travesty. The essence of Science is impartiality, and conscientious scientists offer opinions only when they are directly based on hard evidence. It is glaringly obvious that the only scientists, who have come out in favour of this cobbled together killing plan, are those in the pocket of the Government. It is depressing to see some of the country’s best-educated researchers apparently being told to find evidence to support a decision which has in effect already been made.



This announcement will plunge the country into conflict.



It would be my preference to direct our anger at the Government, and not at the farmers, many of whom will suffer from this decision through no fault of their own. But to the public it will become obvious that the price of their bottle of milk will now be the blood of thousands of mostly healthy badgers; badgers who have been slaughtered in a desperately misguided attempt to solve a farming problem, which has spread into our countryside, infecting whole populations of our wild animals with an unpleasant disease. You have to remember that this is not a government that has any respect whatever for animals … they are also intent on bringing back the abhorrent 'sports' of fox-hunting, stag hunting with dogs, and hare coursing. So it's hardly surprising that they are willing to sacrifice the lives of thousands of badgers simply to solve a financial issue in an already hugely subsidised industry.

But most of all, even if this desperate and ill-informed decision actually COULD lead to the eradication of Bovine TB in cattle – and nobody really believes it will – this is a morally unsupportable course of action. It is time that the laws protecting all animals were tightened up and given teeth. How long can we carry on devastating the Natural World and ignoring the fact that, if we as animals matter, then all sentient creatures do too, and have a right to life and health and fair treatment?



If we allow this slaughter to happen, the blood of these

beautiful and innocent animals is on ALL our hands

 Petition already signed by 40438
http://www.38degrees.org.uk/page/s/badgers-petition#petition

Texas Bigfoot Research Conservancy group has blood on their hands

Or so Bigfoot Evidence http://bigfootevidence.blogspot.com/ says. And, I have to say that since this is based on statements by the TBRC themselves.

The quote in question :

"The TBRC investigator fired upon the animal with an auto-loading shotgun in an attempt to collect a specimen. The creature ran off and no blood was found before the loss of daylight. Additional teams returned to the area in the following days to continue the search for evidence. Stones with apparent blood stains were subsequently discovered a short distance east of the original sighting location in the dry creek bed that is adjacent to the cabins. Several, but not all, of the rocks were collected. Another team was sent to collect the remaining rocks, but a hard rainfall took place on the day of their arrival, and the team was unable to locate any more of the rocks."

It seems that this is not the first Bigfoot creature the TBRC has shot at. It seems that these 'conservationists' want to kill a Sasquatch as the ultimate piece of "scientific evidence" and they should be villified for this.

But they are not the first.  John Green is a Sasquatch researcher/investigator whose works are highly recommended and some of the best found outside of Sanderson's book. In Sasquatch: The Apes Among Us, Green asks: "Should they (Sasquatch) be hunted for scientific purposes? Definitely yes..they will have to be , and study will have to include dissection...sasquatches are not available for study without killing them." (pp. 462 and 463).

Green's opinion is that the Sasquatch is an animal.  And Ape. In his book he seems rather annoyed that there is "public objection to the killing of any of the great apes for research purposes (which) has risen to the point where projects involving it are not approved, even though there are sufficient animals available." (p. 463).  Even at that time I could not believe Green had written that.  It shows a total lack of knowledge pertaining to Great Apes, their environments, populations and the delicate balance of these populations.

But Green can be seen in interviews in which he is quite clear that these Sasquatch are American Great Apes and that apes are okay to kill for study.  At this point I lose respect for the man if not his research.

In the Society for the Investigation of The Unexplaineds Autumn, 1980, issue of Pursuit, Dmitri Bayanov, Chairman of the Hominoid Research Seminar, Darwin Museum, Moscow, took Green to task.  In "Why It Is Not Right To Kill A Gentle Giant" Bayanov made his arguements quite clear and stated that it was most definitely wrong to try to kill as Sasquatch. In the brief correspondence I had with Bayanov  he made it clear that Green maintained the stance.

In January, 1973, the late George F. Haas published his paper The Present State Of Bigfoot, a copy of which he sent to me a little later, Haas states (p.3):

"It would be nice to have a body for examination and dissection and it is fully realized that until such is available the actual existence of the creatures cannot be scientifically determined.  Some investigators sincerely and honestly advocate that a body be brought in for the benefit of science but we feel strongly that there can be no justification whatever for killing one of the creatures for that purpose. It is to be hoped that such a scientific examination could wait until the body of one that has died naturally, or been killed by accident, has been found.  Sooner or later that will happen."

Now, there are certain problems here.  Firstly, 1973 and 1980 was a period when there was no DNA testing.  Secondly, if -if- these creatures do exist, we have no idea about population numbers.  Kill a Sasquatch and you might be killing one of the vital males or females in a breeding group. This could lead to a major threat to any population.

Things have changed considerably over the decades.  For instance, we have DNA so that hairs (also open to many other forms of testing), scat, blood and other material can be tested.  There are very many methods of gathering hair and, though a bit more limited, getting blood samples (see Monster Quest Sasquatch Attack and material found at Snellgrove Lake).

There are infra red/night vision and general types of trail-cams that can be used and a combination of these set up in a wide area might very well produce good footage (again, Snellgrove seems an ideal locale).

Analysis of footprints is, today, very advanced.  Checks can be made for dermal ridging and Dr. Meldrum has proven that there are good physical comparisons between prints from around the US/Canada and even China.  We can tell a great deal from footprints now.

Analysis of video footage cannot be analysed just by experienced film-makers/videographers but the movements of alleged Sasquatch creatures can be analysed and attempts to copy said movements made. If we look at the Patterson-Gimlin footage we see a perfect example. Over 40 years technology has taken this shaky footage to the point where a leg muscle injury can be seen, where accurate assessment of size and so on made and, above all, it shows the unique way that "Patty" walked.  The late Grover Krantz studied this and noted that a man could not walk as shown. Big laugh.  Now the method of walking has been tested using a tall athlete and it has been found that a man ..cannot walk that way.

Arguements used by detractors of the "Patty" footage seem, at best dumb or desperate.

At one point, if asked what I thought, I said the film was a "bad hoax". My opinion has now been altered due to all the scientific analysis carried out.

A body of a sasquatch found...not likely.  Chimpanzees have been seen to comfort and take care of sick/dying members of their group and even use leaves to bury a body.  Sasquatch are assumed to be more intelligent than chimps in their behaviour and tests carried out in typical sasquatch country to see how fast a deer can decompose/be disposed of found that it happens about 50% faster than was thought.

Scientific researchers have looked not just at habitat but food sources as well as possible Sasquatch "nests" so that we know, based on eye-witness reports and our own experiences, what the creatures eat. The detractors always state that "there is never any bedding area found"/"There is no food for a primate to survive on" which, being honest, is pure bilge.  Those people have not studied cases or the literature and to a man/woman they all admit to not having gone on any expeditions or studies.  So, can I say here and now that their opinions do not count on the subject.

The average member of the public does not know about all the research being carried out just the "silly season" jokes -though I've not seen a Bigfoot/Sasquatch report on tv news or in the press in the UK for a very long time.

If it was discovered that the Thylacine did exist in a relic population somewhere would scientists, who never studied live specimens, insist that one be shot for "scientific purposes"?  No. The animal is protected. 

If the Texas Bigfoot Research Conservancy group is planning to "bring in a corpse" they should -must- be condemned and I'm quite sure that supporters withdrawing financial assistance and a boycott of any TBRC fund raising items ought to make them think again.

Killing any animal so you can stamp your foot and cock-a-snoop and say "See -I was right!" is unacceptable. Like the BFRO, I am afraid that the TBRC has lost its credibility for me.

Email the TBRC and say "NO KILLING"

http://www.texasbigfoot.com/

Russian Cliff Sasquatch, 2008

I started playing this video and was somewhat surprised to see/hear the analysis. It's absolute bunk. What you are seeing is a man/woman in a black outfit and clearly has a rucksack on his/her back.

I had thought that I'd gotten the wrong clip but have been told this is the right one.  And people wonder why anything "Bigfoot/Sasquatch" is laughed at!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ckdt2kZ6rYE

Minnesota Bigfoot Sighting Near St. Croix River.mp4

Sadly, though this looks interesting I have to say that I, personally, feel this is a hoax. 

On the Bigfoot Evidence website http://www.bigfootencounters.com/  you can hear a detail-by-detail analysis of this footage.  Sadly, despite watching this clip over and over again I can see no evidence that this is anything other than someone in a costume.


It is pointed out how the 'creature' moves and how unusual this is. There is absolutely nothing in the footage indicating anything other than a person moving.  The "yellow eyes"...I just do not see them.


Check it out for yourself and it is worth noting that the BFRO may be looking into this footage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2kykt_RVYk&feature=player_embedded#!

An Octopus Walking...On Land.

Something I wanted to post but kept forgetting.  In Some Things Strange & Sinister  I wrote a chapter entitled "The Nameless Thing Of Berkley Square" -it concerned mysterious deaths and hauntings at a fashionable London home.

Now one of the theories was that the "slithering horror" might have been an octopus that had dragged itself up out of the sewers and later returned there.

Now I ridiculed the idea (I still do not believe that any octopus was involved) of a land octopus because despite tales I'd never seen such a thing.  Now I have and you can also. Its odd and no hoax.
 Enjoy!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjQr3lRACPI

Then go here for scientific takes on this.
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/octopus-chronicles/2011/11/24/land-walking-octopus-explained-video/

Time For A Sunday Sermon

As is normal when I'm trying to relax and catch up on old and new events involving Sasquatch, sea creatures and UFOs (oh come on -I was investigating them from 1973-2003), not to mention ghosts, I started trawling You Tube.

There really is so much abysmal crap on it with the usual fakers/hoaxers that really need to be given mental health care workers. Then again, maybe I'm being to grumpy? I don't mind the people who want to have a laugh or openly label their videos as "mockumentary" -I can skip past those. 

Its the ones who claim it is all real and lack any imagination -guy in a monkey suit trying to walk like the creature in the Patterson-Gimlin footage (but no one ever gets it even close) or have no imagination so its "oh, duude, let's do a quatch Blair Witch film!"  I actually fell into a coma watching two of those yesterday but luckily I fought back to life (my sister claims I was actually sleeping -but she aint no professional duude).

Which videos would I recommend?

Well, unless you want to waste time avoid Big Foot Hunters. I am sorry but I always had a lot of faith in the Bigfoot Field  Researchers Organisation (BFRO) until I saw these episodes.  Firstly, yeah, I know "Bigfeet" and "Quatch" or "Quatchie" is very annoying.  I do need to point out, though, that Ivan T. Sanderson (one of my heroes) did write "Bigfeet" in Abominable Snowman -Legend Come To Life.  I use "Bigfoot" or "Sasquatch" for plural, too.



I got side-tracked somewhat there.  Right, first, the old documentaries which give you the basics. In Search Of  was narrated by non-other than Leonard Nimoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z0S2zPNP6s

Then you have Peter Graves (Yes, Peter frickin' Graves!) in his Bigfoot quest, though it does skip out at one point to take a quick look at the Loch Ness creature) in Mysterious Monsters (1976) and there is a full movie version available!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjVIX98wFN8

More modern times and I'd go for two Monster Quest episodes.   

Sasquatch Attack
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iTYP2mqkVM

and a later follow up inventively titled sasquatch Attack II
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYkxHm5o-k4 

Monster Quest Critical Evidence is quite interesting
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8csreQ5qYbo 

There are other episodes and documentaries but I think there is a great of "playing up" for the camera in some and even worse one-liners that make you cringe: "I've a feeling tonight we're gonna get our Bigfoot/evidence" and "We stand a better chance than anyone before" and "Let's lock n load!" anyone shouting that out while dressed in cammo "hunting" an elusive primate in the dark loses credibility.

As for analyses of the Patterson-Gimlin "Patty" footage...well, there are lab tests using high tech to see whether a tall athletic person can emulate its movements (fails), analyses of the footage which with todays technology (remember the footage was shot in October 1967 when even Hollywood had trouble creating realistic looking ape suits) reveals things that were not originally seen in the shaky footage but if P & G faked this suit then they were both genius level effects men.  For instance the "leg bump":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR_6GE3whF8&feature=related

We also have Bill Munns excellent analysis of the footage and no one has ever gone into this amount of in-depth checking before.  The sceptics could always respond "Its a man in a gorilla suit" and you ask "Why didn't the sceptics use all this tech stuff to explain the footage away?"  Oh, they are -but they are using Munns' footage to 'prove' points and failing. Seriously, I was always sceptical on the P-G footage and I have tried to view the portions of footage the sceptics put forward but it is so far inane and not far off name-calling.  I love the "Look -its a loose bit of suit cloth and THEY say its a leaf stuck to the sole of its foot!" uh, well, it's been established that there was no such material until the mid 1980s and, though I look hard and pause a lot I can't see much other than what might be a leaf -it is walking in softish earth in..uh, a forest...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKUwdHex1Zs&feature=related

And I found a link to an interview with John Bindernagel who has to be one of the most thorough and respected Sasquatch researchers on how he got involved in the matter:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6cA4avGLYg

Now, Jane Goodall was a very famous naturalist and though I had read that she accepted Sasquatch as a reality I had never heard her say so in her own words so there was always the thought of misquote at the back of my mind.  Now I have a recording of her speaking on the subject:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NmCmfdFAhQ


Now, I don't want to get all Sasquatch obsessive so...

As some people will know -either through talking to me or reading my book Some Things Strange & Sinister and Some More Things Strange & Sinister I have a very keen interest in "mystery" sea creatures. I have absolutely no doubt that there are many undiscovered creatures in the depths of our seas and oceans.  I do get fed up of seeing seals or wakes in water called "mysterious sea monster" though.  So, what has You Tube to offer on this?

Again, I go back to two Monster Quest editions that look at the subject of giant squid and octopus:

Season 1 episode 3: Giant Squid Found

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9zCCv2jp0M&feature=related


And a follow-up of sorts looking for giant octopus season 2 episode 11: Boneless Horror

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yzw3DQ3lWYc 

Series 3 episode 7: Mega Jaws
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybxskJkFqaQ&feature=related 

I think that the best comments, applicable also to Bigfoot and other creature research comes at the end of "Boneless Horror".

After looking at camera footage, diver Dale Pearson says:"I'd like to leave it (camera)  down there a few more days"

Diver and marine researcher Scott Cassell then responds with: "I'd like to leave it down there for a year."

And that is the key. For over thirty years I was a wildlife advisor to UK police forces specialising in exotic cats and, sometimes, mustelids and canids (canids see my book:The Red Caper:Canids).  Farmers, experienced hunters and others would go to an area where there was cat (leopard or puma) activity and set up cameras and lie in wait. Nothing.  They leave and the next day the cat turns up.

You can cammo-up as much as you want but, whether large cats or hairy hominids, they will both smell and sense you.  It's incredible how they do it but they do -its how they survive. Spray as much "anti-scent" on yourself as you like but even if it did work these creatures have eyes and ears...they also note how other animals and birds react and that tells them "somethings not right".

Trail-cams need to be set up and left for as long as possible. Some wildlife researchers set up cameras that send back photographs to a base via satellite-link.

Snellgrove, featured in the Sasquatch Attack episodes would be a perfect location for such a long term camera study.  We have so much technology today from audio-recording devices, infra red/heat cameras and night vision that evidence can be gathered BUT it will take time.  Tv companies want in-and-out with a few days/week because of schedule and cost.  After the stone-throwing incident at Snellgrove what else might have been recorded had the team stayed on a few more days or weeks?

Now, before I go on to other work that is waiting for me, I need to mention The Paranormal Report. Its a podcast taking the next step up from those old American radio shows that took weekly looks at the odd and weird.  The main host is Jim Harold and its a fun show worth checking out:


http://jimharold.com/guests/

and you can watch episodes on you tube.

Hope this has not been all boring?!


The Red Paper:Canids
http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/the-red-papercanines-vol1/18605332?productTrackingContext=author_spotlight_338105_

Some Things Strange & Sinister

http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/some-things-strange-sinister/14958906?productTrackingContext=author_spotlight_338105_

Some More Things Strange & Sinister
http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/some-more-things-strange-sinister/14847371?productTrackingContext=author_spotlight_338105_