Re: what does a Cryptozooalagist study

Greetings John,


The Meaning of Cryptozoology
"Cryptozoology" was coined by Dr. Bernard Heuvelmans in his personal 
correspondence among colleagues in the 1950s, after the 1955 French 
publication of his book On the Track of Unknown Animals. The first 
published use of the word "cryptozoology" was in 1959 when a book by 
Lucien Blancou was dedicated to "Bernard Heuvelmans, master of 
cryptozoology." (See the International Society of Cryptozoology's journal, 
Cryptozoology #3, page 21.) Since 1982, Bernard Heuvelmans has written 
extensively in the journal Cryptozoology on his current thoughts defining 
and redefining "cryptozoology."
Meanwhile, ISC's Vice President Dr. Roy Mackal has written: "...the 
term 'cryptozoology' seems to me particularly appropriate, coming as it 
does from the Greek work *kryptos*, 
meaning 'hidden.' 'unknown,' 'secret,' 'enigmatic,' 'mysterious'; hence 
literally the study of hidden animals" (Searching for Hidden Animals, 
Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1980, p. xi). Dr. Karl Shuker has noted 
that "cryptozoology" is "literally translated as 'the study of hidden 
life'" (The Lost Ark, London: HarperCollins, 1993, p. 11), perhaps giving 
the idea to the reader that this encompasses plants and other nonanimal 
forms.
This, according to private 1998 email from Dr. Shuker, is, of course, not 
what he meant to imply. From my discussions with Richard Greenwell (ISC 
Sec.) and Bernard Heuvelmans (ISC Pres), as well as with various directors 
on the ISC Board, the general feeling is that an important element in the 
study of hidden animals as envisioned in current cryptozoology is the 
input of local, native, explorer, and traveler traditions, sightings, 
tales, legends and folklore of the as-yet unverified animals. It is for 
this very reason that most, but not all, of the animals under pursuit are 
large ones.
Also, it should be noted, a general sense among Russian cryptozoologists, 
especially as communicated through the books of Dmitri Bayanov, is 
that "cryptozoology" is the study of the evidence for hidden animals. 
Therefore, not too simply, cryptozoology is the study of hidden animals 
(whether large or small), to date not formally recognized by what is often 
termed Western science or formal zoology but supported in some way by 
testimony.
 http://www.lorencoleman.com/  
     
The Cryptozoologist has moved. Our new address is. www.lorencoleman.com. 
Hang on and we'll take you there right now...
733, http://www.agate.net
/~cryptozoo/cryptohome.html 
    
Loren Coleman is one of the world's leading cryptozoologists. An honorary 
member of several international cryptozoological organizations, he is a...
652, http://www.agate.net/~cry
ptozoo/loren.html  
     
Big Foot Research in the Southern States and abroad
563, http://www.gcbro.com/ 
     
Dr Karl Shuker BSc PhD FRES FZS is a zoologist and world-renowned 
cryptozoological expert.
471, http://members.aol.com/karlshuker
/  
     
Big Foot Research in the Southern States and abroad
350, http://gcbro.com/ 


June Wingert
Mad Scientist