Does Cryptozoology have a point?

Some one asked me what is the point of cryptozoology? Well my first answer is : does it need to have a point? You could just as well ask does ghost hunting, train spotting or Morris Dancing have a point? They are all interests of some people , no matter how comical or strange other people find them.( I admit I find Morris Dancing bizarre, and who was Morris?).

However that would be facetious of me and the serious answer is yes it does have a point. It strives to find answers to questions, to identify new or once extinct species and researches what some main stream scientists will not or are afraid to. New species and old species are being rediscovered all the time and I give some links below, plus a list of some that we all know about.

Just because something has only been seen or heard by a few people and that others have seen fair to put out hoax photos and stories , does not make it not worth investigating. The giant Squid or Kraken was a seafaring myth until filmed underwater by Japanese scientists.

People like to believe there is something more in the world than what we see every day and most would love to find that Nessie or Bigfoot really exists. So don’t knock the people who investigate these things. Be glad they do, because even if there are no answers , the fun in finding that out ,one way or another , is great science by anyone’s’ standards.

A few rediscovered Species: Coelacanth , Gorillas, Giant Squid, Komodo dragon, Visayan spotted deer and I am sure you can add to the list.

New Species Of Biting Aquatic Insects Found In Thailand

ScienceDaily (May 24, 2007) — While in Thailand, a University of Missouri-Columbia researcher found a treasure-trove of previously unknown information about aquatic insects in the country. In the process, he learned firsthand that a few of these little critters pack quite a punch when they bite. See story here: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070523100035.htm

The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has reported the discovery of 12 new species of amphibians and 14 species of insects — not known to science — from 13 states in the last few years.“It shows the richness of our bio-diversity,” Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh said while releasing the ZSI’s report ‘Animal Discoveries’ on Thursday — World Environment Day.“We will strengthen the National Bio-Diversity Authority to protect our natural heritage.” Although India has just two per cent of the world’s land, it houses 7.44 per cent (or 91,364) of its animal species. About 60 per cent of these are insects.see rest of story here: http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=NLetter&id=8689d76b-b6ac-4e3e-97ba-d2ecc725839a&Headline=New+frog%2c+insect+species+found

"Lost World" Found in Indonesia Is Trove of New Species

Stefan Lovgren for National Geographic News February 7, 2006

To boldly go where no one has gone before, one group of scientists didn't have to venture into space. They found a lost world right here on Earth. "It really was like crossing some sort of time warp into a place that people hadn't been to," said Bruce Beehler of the wildlife expedition he co-led in December into the isolated Foja Mountains on the tropical South Pacific island of New Guinea. story here:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/02/0207_060207_new_species.html

And another lost world found:

When images of Mount Mabu were analysed, it became clear that there was a large patch of dark green of which there was no official record. A quickly arranged visit to northern Mozambique confirmed what Dr Bayliss had suspected. "It was at that stage I realised that we were dealing with what looks like the biggest rainforest in Southern Africa," he said. New species have been found . See full story here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8094862.stm