Cryptozoology Futurology
Posted by: Loren Coleman on February 7th, 2008
Yes, I have turned up in this new book, What’s Next: The Experts’ Guide: Predictions from 50 of America’s Most Compelling People by Jane Buckingham.
I am one of the fifty “most compelling people” in the country. I’m still trying to explain what that means to my sons. I do like the company I get to keep in the pages of this tome, which has just hit the bookstores.
What’s Next takes cryptozoology seriously. It contains my next decade’s predictions about where I see the field going and what animals I feel will be discovered. I won’t spoil this author’s book by publishing my list of predictions here.
Well, come to think of it, let me share a favorite I’ve stated before, one of several in the book:
Explorers looking for “living dinosaurs” (in Africa) will find evidence that the animals they’re seeking are actually unknown forest rhinos. ~ Loren Coleman, page 53.
A wet deep rainforest rhino photographed in Asia, used to illustrate how un-rhino-like the species sometimes appear.
I thought I would mention the book and have a little fun by opening the floor to what you folks think is in store for cryptozoology’s future.
While you ponder that thought, here is the book’s description from the publisher, Harper.
What will the next ten years look like?
In her role as founder and president of The Intelligence Group, a consulting and trend-spotting company at the forefront of predictions about the ever-elusive youth and consumer market, Jane Buckingham spends her days looking for the telling details in today’s culture that give clues about what our future holds. What’s Next: The Experts’ Guide is the result of her conversations with dozens of fascinating people in a wide range of industries, all giving their highly individual perspectives on the world as they know it.
From education to the environment, from robotics to drug policy, with an emphasis on up-and-coming industries and news-making topics, some of the most compelling and timely matters of our era are addressed by dozens of contributors, including:
Renowned computer scientist Steve Ward, PhD, on the biggest issues regarding emerging technologies, intellectual property, and alternate economic models.
Actors Felicity Huffman and Bill Macy, on the need for new creativity in storytelling.
Campaign adviser Joe Trippi, on how politics will be turned upside down in the next five to ten years.
Latina magazine founder Christy Haubegger, on the optimism and growing prospects of the young Latino population.
Architect Greg Lynn, on how technology is uniting the world of design, from automobiles to art to movies.
Filled with surprising insights and details, What’s Next: The Experts’ Guide also shows how these leaders work, what they believe will be important, and what they think is not worth our time. In a world that seems to be changing faster than ever, What’s Next offers intriguing insights into how we can keep up—and stay ahead.
Additional authors among the “50 of America’s Most Compelling People” include:
Loren Coleman, cryptozoologist and author
Tony Hawk, skateboarder
Amy Ziff, travel writer
Shaun Alexander, NFL player
Alan Dershowitz, Harvard law professor
Dr. Joy Browne, radio talk show host
Rodney A. Brooks, MIT robotic professor
What are your cryptozoology predictions for 2008? For the next decade? What new animals will be discovered? What cryptid expeditions will be fielded?
About Loren Coleman
Loren Coleman is one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, some say “the” leading living cryptozoologist. Certainly, he is acknowledged as the current living American researcher and writer who has most popularized cryptozoology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Starting his fieldwork and investigations in 1960, after traveling and trekking extensively in pursuit of cryptozoological mysteries, Coleman began writing to share his experiences in 1969. An honorary member of Ivan T. Sanderson’s Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained in the 1970s, Coleman has been bestowed with similar honorary memberships of the North Idaho College Cryptozoology Club in 1983, and in subsequent years, that of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, CryptoSafari International, and other international organizations. He was also a Life Member and Benefactor of the International Society of Cryptozoology (now-defunct).
Loren Coleman’s daily blog, as a member of the Cryptomundo Team, served as an ongoing avenue of communication for the ever-growing body of cryptozoo news from 2005 through 2013. He returned as an infrequent contributor beginning Halloween week of 2015.
Coleman is the founder in 2003, and current director of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine.
I’m hoping we finally get proof of the orang pendek pretty soon. I think that’s pretty realistic within a ten year forecast.
A firm consensus on the ivory billed woodpecker
I’m with you on the forest rhino
More detailed insight into large deep water squid
Proof of big cats in the UK (!)
We live in interesting times. With the relative inexpensive nature of recording devices available to common consumers, better digital photography equipment, and access to such gear as motion capture cameras, I think the world of terrestrial cryptozoology is going to become very different in even just the next 2-3 years.
Using sighting patterns to develop seasonal migration patterns, I bet we see camera trap catching something very interesting in the Pacific Northwest.
Recalling the footage of the Sumatran Rhino, I can also foresee the Orang Pendak entering into the academic study category as well.
I also think that we may be in for a few suprises here or there. I would love to see some definitive death worm data, or even something radical with insects.
For Fun…
For 2008-2010.
I predict (with no claims on accuracy) the following.
In several regions of the world, there will be newly acquired evidence of several species of bipedal-locomoting apes. In Africa, in the southeast Asia region, as well as China and Himalayan region (Bhutan, or Nepal). The Pentagon will release their footage taken in West Africa by special forces that has been long rumored to exist (through the intercession of the new president).
Footage of a Sasquatch, that will be among the most clear yet. Also perhaps a kill specimen. This could be either in Florida or Colorado or Washington State.
Nepal will become the focus of scrutiny when several accounts of large unidentifieds get reported by Western visitors.
First good footage of ropen-type creatures, from Indonesia and Malaysia.
Nessie will get some more attention, with some footage of a head and neck.
A carcass washed upon the shoreline of South Africa will lead to the identification of a new species of long-necked ocean-going creatures. The Pentagon will release several films taken by special forces and others of previously unidentified ocean-going creatures (through the intercession of the new administration).
Tasmanian wolves will be verified as existing.
Moas will be verified as surviving (the large kind).
Mammoths will be verified as existing.
A new expedition to look for the Yeti will take place.
I think I will leave it there!.
I think within 10 years we will see something exciting with the orang pendek. What Id liketo see happen is a really world class wildlife film crew like the guys in the david attinborough snow leopard program who lived in and scoured the mountains of pakistan for months for the most beautiful footage of them. We need people out there with cameras full time. Im encoraged by the increased popularity of cryptozoology and availability of video and photgraphic equipment. I dont want to raise my hopes too high but this gives us the best chance we have ever had of getting real believable evidence of a whole number of creatures.
Its tricky turning that into realistic preditions without getting carried away with my hopes. But I think we’re gona see some good news for bigfoot theres a lot of people looking seriously, Im still hopelessly optimistic about nessie but for that I think we need a full time underwater survailance with thermo cameras and sonar possibly on some sort of boat perminatly moored there.
I would love to be proved to a pessamist and see much much more.
New BF photos or even actual film footage. I feel the Patterson film will finally be authenticated by such footage. I also believe that the person or people that obtain the photos or footage will be unsuspecting people in the right place at the right time. I feel that the BF creatures are just to intelligent to not know people are in the woods looking for them. I am sure they know we are there long before we even come close to one. It takes quite a bit of stealth and no how just for a bow hunter to get a deer in range let alone sneaking up on a big foot.
I think the ivory billed woodpecker controversy will be solved very soon.
I believe there will be new giant fresh water fish found or giant specimens of known fresh water fish.
I think better video footage than the Patty footage will be shot within the next ten years. With any luck I will be the one producing said footage.
I must say their are some very good predictions stated above. If only half of these come true it will be an amazing next ten years.
The Ivory-billed Woodpecker will be confirmed to still exist in either Arkansa, the Florida panhandle, or maybe Louisiana. The Eastern Cougar will also be accepted by science as not extinct. (I still don’t know what to think about the “black panthers”, all the photos I’ve seen look like feral black cats to me.) And maybe we’ll get some really good bigfoot photos, footage, evidence etc. Many new species of reptiles and amphibians, small mammals, etc, will be discovered, and maybe a new large mammal.
Well I predict that I’m gonna end up including this book in my Amazon’s wish list.
….Well whaddayaknow? I must be a psychic 😉
I have to throw my vote into the Pacific Northwest primate category within 5 years. Orang Pendek seems like a very likely candidate as well for some very solid discoveries. I also predict a large avian (thunderbird-ish) confirmation within 10 years.
I would really love to see some developments on the lake monster front as well, but I, like PhilsterUK feel “hopelessly optimistic.” 😉 As ridiculous as it may sound, I think we actually stand a better chance of finding something ocean-going or at least a carcass.
I predict, that with in the next three years, all cryptids will be classified underneath the new heading of “Blobstuff.” Detailing how each and every photo or video is out of focus, shaky and or too far away to see what’s it of.
Other than that, I think that we will see some great footage of Bigfoot come out from the Northwest. Sea monsters will be photographed from some transatlantic cruise. Oh and Kaiju will destroy Tokyo.
Nuff Said.
Good stuff…
I second DARHOP, WHITERIVERFISHERMAN, and GREENMARTIAN2007 in believing we’ll FINALLY get better and/or decisive photographic evidence of BF.
One thing…
Aw, come on, Loren, why are you being such a “killjoy”in regards to Africa? Are you saying there is NO possibility of Mokele-mbembe even being REMOTELY for real?
I know Agnagna has been discredited most convincingly but what about Rory Nugent in 1985?
I seriously doubt those villagers would have pointed guns at him if it had just been a unknown forest rhino. And yes, I know his pictures were too blurry.
Let’s say I give the villagers more credit regarding what they consider “sacred.”
I would also say (and if I’m wrong you can correct me, of course) that Nugent would have certainly at least have known how to differentiate between a rhino and a dinosaur. Again, if Nugent is also a fraud or just mistaken in his identification, feel free to correct me, sir. I’m all ears.
I AM willing to give credence to O’Hanlon’s theory that Mokele-mbembe is actually more a spiritual symbol, but how about this, Loren?
Would you at least give SOME credence to local folklore in other areas of Africa? For centuries American Indians have talked about Bigfoot, flying demons, fairy-like creatures and the like and nobody gave them any credence until it was actually found that there might be SOME truth to them!!! Why not African tribesmen?
Ken Gerhard in his book about BIG BIRD recounts the case of (I forget the guy’s name and I don’t have the book with me) pterosaur hunter giving a lecture about birdzillas and being approached by a student from Kenya who told him that his pictures of pterodactyls matched exactly what the student was regularly seen back in his village. In another instance (from the book) when researchers showed African villagers pictures of pterosaurs, they identified THOSE as being the same creatures they had seen flying around on their area.
I know pterosaurs, pterodactyls et al. are NOT dinosaurs but what I’m trying to say is:
Would you at least give credence to some sort of PREHISTORIC CREATURE being found in the recesses of Africa?
Thanks for killing the dream, Loren…
(Mock indignation. Followed by a chuckle.)
Great article, as always. Looking forward to the book.
I predict that some giant lake fish, probably ancient sturgeon, will be found in Lake Iliamna, Alaska. Now…for my really big prediction….I believe that a smaller than previously thought “extinct” meat eating marsupial will be found in Australia and will reveal the Queensland Tiger to be actually a very real and living animal existing in modern times.
1. mainland China will finally identify the wildman as a Orangutan.
2. Mokele Mbembe will be identified as a giant python.
3. A new large monitor lizard will be discovered in Papua New Guinea.
4. The Colossal squid will be filmed in its natural habitat.
5. Giant lake fish will be found in US, China & East Asia.
6. Orang Pendek will be discovered.
7. A new Bear species/sub species will be discovered in Bhutan.
8. A new species of giant snake will be discovered.
9. A series of Crypto safaris will take place.
10. Cryptozoology will be recognised as a valid science.
Well, all the good ideas are taken. But, I believe that there is a good chance of the following being brought to light:
1.) A true Giant Octopus.
2.) Evidence that teratorns or giant birds of prey could have carried off much larger prey than previously thought.
3.) Carcharodon Megalodon (Personal Favorite)
I believe we will come across several new water critters…probably most will be familiar animals such as sharks, squids, and such, but I think there will also be some footage of some unknowns too–in attempts to photograph more giant and colossal squid, they will come across a serpent of the sea 🙂
Personally, I would love to have someone find photo evidence of the giant cuttlefish off Jamaica, a true giant octopus, and a descendant of a kronosaur, but that’s my 2008-2018 wish list…
as for land, I think in the next ten we will get some even more definitive evidence on Sasquatch–there are even more people out there hunting and using much more sophisticated equipment and more sophisticated approaches to finding the animal.
I also predict that there is going to be even more hoaxing and it is going to get better and better, making our jobs even harder than they have been…sorry, but I think that’s a sucker bet.
Hate to sound negative, but I don’t think we will see any major new developments in 2008. We didn’t in 2007 so why would 2008 be any different? No doubt there will the usual new discoveries in exotic locations of insects, frogs, skinks, maybe even a snake or a new monkey and several species presumed to be extinct could also be rediscovered. I would love to see a half way decent clear photo of Bigfoot this year and the thylacine as well, but what I want and what’s likely to happen are two different things entirely. Just hope that I am proven wrong! 🙂
“Explorers looking for “living dinosaurs” (in Africa) will find evidence that the animals they’re seeking are actually unknown forest rhinos.” ~ Loren Coleman, page 53.
“Aw, come on, Loren, why are you being such a “killjoy”in regards to Africa? Are you saying there is NO possibility of Mokele-mbembe even being REMOTELY for real?” – Cryptidsrus response
Explorers will prove that Loren is right that there is an unknown forest rhino (maybe even an aquatic one that could be an explanation of Ngoubou in Cameroon) but the rhino is NOT Mokele-mbembe because the explorers will bring back photos, videos, and hopefully hard evidence of Mokele-mbembe. Living dinosaurs are alive and well and will be found!!! Not only in Africa but other parts of the world.
The problem with Mokele-mbembe being a rhino is I don’t know of any rhinos that have long necks and can eat the the leaves of trees fifty foot high. I’ve got video interviews of local person in Cameroon talking about Mokele-mbembe eating leaves that are about 50 ft off the ground. So Mokele-mbembe has be something other then a rhino.
I hope to be one of those people on a future Mokele-mbembe expedition to bring back the proof of Mokele-mbembe: The Living Dinosaur!
That Ropens will be offically discovered and documented.
Scott T. Norman
President
CryptoSafari.
Well, I’d rather pick the Super Bowl. At least I have something to base that on. lol
As it’s piling speculation on speculation, I’ll pass except to say: we’ll keep finding new species, frequently in places we thought we’d found everything. And this should tell us something about the sas and the yeti. And someday maybe it will.
For the next decade, I think we’ll be confronted with proof of the continued existence of the Thylacine, in Australia and perhaps in New Guinea. Hopefully, the worldwide response will be to protect, rather than exploit these magnificent animals. Other than that, I agree with greenmartian2007 – we’ll have definitive proof of the existence of Big Foot/Sasquatch, but I hope it isn’t in the form of a dead body provided by a hunter.
Actually this year I am going on Yeti Expedition ’08 once when I get the grant and equipment together. Wish me luck.