The Loch Ness Monster Is...

Joe Moore · 03-08-2006, 07:13 PM

An Elephant?

Quote:

Unexplained sightings of the Loch Ness monster could have been elephants enjoying a swim, a scientist has said.
Neil Clark, curator of palaeontology at Glasgow University's Hunterian Museum, spent two years researching Nessie.

He said they could have been circus elephants, as fairs visiting Inverness would often stop on the banks of Loch Ness to give the animals a rest.

The trunk and humps in the water would bear similarities to some of the most famous Nessie photographs.

There have been reported sightings of "something" in Loch Ness dating back to the 6th Century and it has grown into one of the world's most enduring myths.

Hazy photographs and eyewitness accounts have sprung up over the past 100 years, without offering conclusive evidence that Nessie exists.

I do believe there is something alive in Loch Ness

Neil Clark
Palaeontologist
Dr Clark said most sightings of Nessie could be explained by floating logs or waves.

But he is promoting the elephant theory because his research showed circuses were a common occurrence in the area, particularly from the early 1930s.

"The circuses used to take the road up to Inverness and allow their animals to have a rest, swim about in the loch and refresh themselves," he said.

"It's quite possible that the people around Loch Ness saw some of these animals.

"When their elephants were allowed to swim in the loch, only the trunk and two humps could be seen - the first hump being the top of the head and the second being the back of the animal.

"The elephant theory would not explain some of the later sightings. I don't know when the last circus to Inverness was, but I'm presuming there were some after 1933."

Asked whether he believed in the Loch Ness monster, Dr Clark said: "I do believe there is something alive in Loch Ness."

Dr Clark's findings are published in the Open University Geological Society journal this month.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4779248.stm

The artist rendering makes a good case.

Razerwire · 03-08-2006, 07:20 PM

Interesting... Could be plausible...

But a dinosaur would be so much COOLER!!!

Omnibus Prime · 03-08-2006, 07:26 PM

I thought, just before he died, the guy who took the original photograph admitted that he rigged something up, took a pic and created a monster, so to speak.

Seth Buzzard · 03-08-2006, 08:26 PM

I remember seeing a show about Nessie a few years ago and they talked about this other lake that had a “monster” in it that did turn out to be an elephant that a circus owner was embarrassed to report missing so I don’t see why Nessie couldn’t have been also. But yes a big crazy monster would be way cooler then a boring old elephant.

DevilzFan · 03-08-2006, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omnibus Prime

I thought, just before he died, the guy who took the original photograph admitted that he rigged something up, took a pic and created a monster, so to speak.

That is correct. 'Nessie was a hoax. The famous picture that's been around since 1933 was a fake.

Quote:

This famed "Surgeon's Photo" was confirmed a hoax, based on the deathbed confessions of Chris Spurling, son-in-law of Marmaduke Wetherell. Spurling claimed the photo, which inspired much popular interest in the monster, was actually a staged photograph of clay attached to a toy submarine. Wetherell, a big game hunter, had been tricked into searching for an imaginary monster around the loch based on evidence which turned out to be the result of children's prank.

Sonscreen · 03-08-2006, 09:22 PM

Maybe it was a really big furry lobster.

Greyryder · 03-08-2006, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omnibus Prime

I thought, just before he died, the guy who took the original photograph admitted that he rigged something up, took a pic and created a monster, so to speak.

The guy who made the death bed "confession" was a known life long hoaxter. Supposedly he and his brother staged the photo, then had the doctor claim that he had taken it.

The way I understand, he claims that they took the photo in some small bay. The full uncropped version of the photo, shows the other side of the lock. It couldn't have been taken where he claimed.

The size of things can be hard to discern on water, since there's nothing for scale. Personally, I'd buy the otter theory, before I'd buy the elephant theory.

EmineX · 03-08-2006, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DevilzFan

That is correct. 'Nessie was a hoax. The famous picture that's been around since 1933 was a fake.

You might already know this, but let me state it anyway.

It's not that Nessie doesn't exist (necessarily), but that the Sturgeon's photo in particular is a hoax.

-Mike

funkatron101 · 03-08-2006, 11:50 PM

The elephant idea is as plausible as anything I have heard. You would think people would keep watching though, and eventually the elephant would get out.

Wing alpha · 03-08-2006, 11:59 PM

dunnyo I want a dinosaur though.....