Comments on: By George: Schaller, A Misquoted Cryptozoologist?

By: kittenz

kittenz — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 01:45:28 +0000

In case anybody’s interested, there’s a very brief article about Schaller’s recent visit to the ANWR in this month’s “Alaska” magazine.

By: kittenz

kittenz — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 22:18:31 +0000

Schaller is one of my idols too. He was among the very first scientists to conduct long-term studies of animals in the field. All of his books and papers are classics – meticulously researched and beautifully told. His reverence for the natural world and his passion for preserving wildlife echo through his works.

Schaller was the first person ever to photograph a snow leopard in the wild. His book Stones of Silence details his search for that elusive cat. He spent many months traveling through the Himalayas during that search, in the early 1970’s. Even that long ago, he was astonished and dismayed that human activity has denuded so much of the whole area. Wildlife was scarce everywhere, even in the few protected areas.

In Stones of Silence, Schaller discusses the Yeti at some length. He does not discount the possibility that some large animal exists undiscovered by the western world. He does mention that in all his travels through the region, and months of studying and cataloging the wildlife there, he has never seen any evidence of such a creature. But he does not rule out the possibility that they could exist.

By: calash

calash — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 00:56:00 +0000

The DNA question is interesting. I recall listing to a radio program that featured a female doctor that was an expert with animal DNA. The program was not about Bigfoot.

As I recall here services were used by law enforcement to ID what type of animal may have been at a crime scene. I seem to remember her saying that they had DNA samples from all known animals. If a perpetrator had a dog with him and you could identify it by breed this may let you narrow your suspect list. I wish I could remember more about the program I think it was on NPR last spring.

Also I think that eventually DNA evidence will be the proof that everyone is looking for regarding Bigfoot.

Regards

By: Bob Michaels

Bob Michaels — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 23:18:53 +0000

George Shaller is not an arm chair conservationist but an eminent explorer.He is a scientist as well, he would like to see some hard evidence as to the existince of Giganto. How about some old fashioned squat, not maufactured footprints. Since 1900 some 2500 sightings have been reported, at least 5% need further investigation.

The Snowman in all likelihood may well be a type of Cave Bear?

By: Lee Pierce

Lee Pierce — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 23:06:47 +0000

Good article, Loren. Wiki is a fun place, but not necessarily all hard facts.

By: Ceroill

Ceroill — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 22:53:24 +0000

It has been known for years that Britannica contains errors. Some rather big ones, or has in the past. Not surprising to me if they still do.

By: shovethenos

shovethenos — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 22:42:42 +0000

WVBIG_2006-

Exactly – when you find unidentified DNA in an area with a history of sightings that is just as significant, if not more so, than the P/G film, since the average guy on the street can’t whip up fake DNA. Skeptics and mainstream science need to be reminded constantly that unidentified DNA and other hard evidence from hair (metals content analysis) have been found in several different geographic areas that all have a history of sightings.

Then, when they again say there is “no hard evidence” they need to be reminded again. And so on.

By: WVBIG_2006

WVBIG_2006 — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 19:17:55 +0000

It’s interesting how most mainstream scientists keep harping on the “No conclusive DNA” thing when they know, or at least they should know, that there can’t be conclusive DNA results until there is something conclusive to compare the specimens to.

By: calash

calash — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 18:49:16 +0000

Reading between the lines it seems that Dr. Schaller wants to believe in a Large undiscovered primate but is frustrated that undisputable evidence just will not seem to come up. I am sure every one interested in this feels the same.
It is too bad that the Bigfoot cause could not attract a benefactor with unlimited resources. Someone that could fund investigators and keep cameras and other surveillance equipment in the field and serviced for as long as it takes. or prepositioned rapid response teams around the country that could descend on a high quality sighting area within hours with loads of high tech equipment.
Just some thoughts
Regards

By: Sky King

Sky King — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 18:43:41 +0000

I decided to make my comments about GS separately from my explanation about Wiki.

George Schaller is one of my idols. I have read THE SNOW LEOPARD by Peter Mathiessen six or seven times, and GS is a major focus of that book. Schaller’s integrity shines through in that book. GS is the king of mammalogists, and no one would rather see proof of Bigfoot, Yeti, et al than George.