Unicorn Caught on Video?
Posted by: Craig Woolheater on October 21st, 2010
FOOTAGE of a unicorn running though a wood has been exposed as an elaborate hoax to promote an upcoming science exhibition.
Ontario Science Centre in Toronto, Canada, claimed it had been sent the video by a group of intrepid myth hunters and was analysing the footage.
The video was posted on Youtube, with millions debating its authenticity.
“The Science Centre is reviewing the footage frame-by-frame to determine whether the claim is legitimate,” the centre said in a statement.
“With closer examination, we hope to establish whether or not a genuine unicorn sighting has occurred.
The statement even warned the public to use caution if they think they see a unicorn, and to “not make any sudden movements or attempt to use flash photography”.
“Although legends of unicorns state they are peaceful creatures, scientists worry they may harm themselves or others if they end up on a road or highway,” the statement said.
An emergency unicorn hotline was also set up for further information on unicorns or to report any unusual or questionable sightings.
The centre decided to reveal the truth about the video – but not after causing a media storm.
“We’ve received calls from all kinds of people, predominantly women, and some confused news reporters, in response to the video,” The Science Centre spokesman Christine Crosbie said.
“The reactions have been amazing – women wish it were true.
“Although some keen-eyed spectators have reported knowing the video was fake by the way the unicorn’s tail moves and the fact it is not pure white.
“It’s still alive in our culture even though we don’t have any proof scientifically.”news.com.au
Source: Unicorn video a hoax, says Ontario Science Centre
Co-founder of Cryptomundo in 2005.
I have appeared in or contributed to the following TV programs, documentaries and films:
OLN's Mysterious Encounters: "Caddo Critter", Southern Fried Bigfoot, Travel Channel's Weird Travels: "Bigfoot", History Channel's MonsterQuest: "Swamp Stalker", The Wild Man of the Navidad, Destination America's Monsters and Mysteries in America: Texas Terror - Lake Worth Monster, Animal Planet's Finding Bigfoot: Return to Boggy Creek and Beast of the Bayou.
This is the kind of unfortunate virtual, viral and, on some level, vicious visual hoax that I truly hate. Here an established science organization, to get more visitors, fakes this unicorn video and places it in a cryptozoological context.
It does serious cryptozoology no favors!
And by reflection, their center comes off looking rather childish for promoting themselves in this fashion.
Pretty obvious fake. Now, this is a classic example of CGI.
Even mythological beasts have to move their legs when they’re running…
Sigh. When I hit play I assumed it would be a white horse with a fake horn. I was right.
Realistically, if unicorns exist, they probably wouldn’t be a horned horse. It’d be more like other horned ungulates which are cloven-hoofed animals not like horses and zebras, etc.
The old descriptions of unicorns looking more like a deer or goat are much more likely than the ‘white horned horse’ image that is now common.
A unicorn is a very possible animal when looked at as simply a wild cloven-hoofed ungulate with one horn instead of 2+.
I’m not sure we can call it a hoax since it is known to be part of a viral marketing campaign. Guerrilla marketing aside, I tend to doubt EVERYTHING posted on YouTube until such time as I have the evidence and reason to conclude otherwise. In this case, the first thing that I thought was why a unicorn? It’s not one of the more plausible cryptids. Then the footage itself caught my eye: fairly fluid (despite some “jerkiness”), clear, and close up. I mean, if more some of the more plausible Bigfoot videos can’t even get a clean shot like that, I’m astounded that someone could capture a unicorn to this degree. Lastly – and by no means sealing the deal – that is a very good lens and video quality. While commercial end products are fast rivaling even professional equipment (full video HD SLRs can shoot movies), this is an unexpectedly good video. I think the likelihood would have been a shaky video shot from an iPhone or such.
I am up for a laugh, but I have to echo Loren’s comments here. I have risked my life on occasions to bring back credible evidence of the existence of some of the cryptids on our planet, because I passionately believe in their existence. While you can never stop rogue individuals, like the Georgia Bigfoot duo, indulging in this sort of thing, it is a little depressing to see reputable organisations pulling this, in the name of publicity.
Damn, apparently unicorns had wheels.
The folks at the Ontario Science Centre are demented and cruel to do a thing like this. It is not funny in any way, shape, or form. I second (or third, I think) Loren’s comments.