THATCHER: DOLPHINS COULD HUNT LOCH NESS MONSTER

By Mark Smith 16/01/2006 Hi-tech search plan uncovered

A NESSIE hunt using a team of dolphins was planned by the Tory government, according to declassified secret documents. Within days of the 1979 election, officials in Margaret Thatcher's regime proposed importing the mammals from America and fitting them with hi-tech equipment to scour Loch Ness. Despite opposition from animal rights groups, it was argued that finding the monster would benefit local tourism. A letter from Environment Department civil servant David Waymouth to Stewart Walker at the Scottish Home and Health Department, showed the Government wanted a licence to initiate the plan. It stated: "This department is presently considering the issue of a licence to import two bottle-nosed dolphins from America for the purpose of exploring Loch Ness. "Inquiries have been made with the mammal experts on the Scientific Authority for Animals and their advice is that there are no conservation or welfare reasons for refusing a licence. "Clearly, however, there are other factors, mainly political, that you might wish to consider before the licence is issued." The National Archive of Scotland contains no record of a response to the letter, which was released under the Freedom of Information Act. However, Adrian Shine, a naturalist who has been investigating the Loch Ness mystery for several decades, said he believed the dolphin plan was the brainchild of veteran monster hunter Dr Robert Rines. Rines was the founder of the American-based Academy of Applied Science who took a now-famous underwater photograph in 1972, which appeared to show a large flipper in the loch. The Academy of Applied Science in New Hampshire confirmed that dolphins were being trained with mini cameras and strobe lights that would have been activated if they encountered any large objects. Last week, it was revealed that civil servants made plans to give Nessie legal protection from poachers and bounty hunters in the early 80s. The plan was instigated when the Swedish government asked for help to preserve their equivalent, the Storsjo monster. UK officials then realised there was nothing to stop a trophy hunter from tracking down the beast and killing her. It was eventually decided that Nessie should be protected as part of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, rather than specific legislation. Under the provisions of the Act it is illegal to snare, shoot or blow up the monster.

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It sounds bizarre but then could have been feasible who knows? The loch may have been too cold for the dolphins and then again they have sonar to help them see in the peaty black waters. There are always bizarre stories about Loch Ness and they all make interesting reading !