There is so much that is unexplored on this planet – both on dry land and beneath the waters – that we must wonder what fantastic animals are still hidden from identification.
HOW YOU CAN BEGIN INVESTIGATING
Are you interested in searching for these elusive creatures? Are you hungry to know the truth about the Sasquatch, the Jersey Devil, Chupacabras and lake monsters? People who investigate and go in search of such creatures are known as cryptozoologists, and Mark A. Mihalko is one of them. Mark is founder of the Atlantic Coast Paranormal Research Group (ACPRG), director of the cryptozoological research team for the Smoking Gun Research Agency (SGRA) and is the Editorial Director for Haunted Times magazine.
As a respected field investigator, Mark takes a strictly scientific approach to the hunt for crypto creatures. And he reveals his methods in his book, Searching the Abyss: A Beginner’s Guide to Cryptozoological Investigations (Publish America, 2005). Aside from providing profiles of many of the more well-known cryptids, Mark’s book explains how to begin an investigation, how to conduct a field investigation and then form a hypothesis from your findings, all in a professional manner. Famous cryptozoological success stories, such as the coelacanth and the giant panda, are also discussed. It’s a great book for getting you started in this field.
TIPS FROM THE EXPERT
Mark took some time out from his busy schedule to answer a few questions for us:
How did you get involved with cryptozoological investigations, and how long have you been doing it?
I have always been a person who loved the unexplained. Growing up in Pennsylvania, I experienced ghosts and hauntings, and wanted to learn as much as possible. From there, other unexplained things came into my mind: the Bermuda Triangle, Atlantis and Bigfoot were some of the first (as with most people). As those interests grew, so did my thoughts of discovering an unknown creature like the Loch Ness Monster. I know that animals like that exist and have always wanted to be involved with the discovery. When I finally had the chance to start exploring some of these creatures on my own about 15 years ago, I did just that. Of course, being in the US Navy limits my availability, but whenever I have a chance to get into the field, I do. Right now, I am in the process of researching the Dismal Swamp Monster from local legends.
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