Cryptids and Circuses
Posted by: Nick Redfern on November 16th, 2012
At Mysterious Universe, there’s a new article from me that focuses on one of the most-often-suggested scenarios to explain Cryptids in our midst: that they are nothing stranger than escapees from circuses.
But, the significant number of such reports, rumors and tales makes it obvious – as far as I’m concerned – that this is simply a case of ongoing folklore, myth and rumor.
And here’s how I begin…
“One of the many and varied explanations put forward to try and explain away the presence in our midst of strange beasts and creatures – ‘Cryptids,’ as they’re known within the fields of Cryptozoology and monster-hunting – is that they’re nothing stranger than zoo-escapees. Some might say that the theory is a highly plausible one. Well, I would agree to a degree, were it not for one important and undeniable fact: such tales have been dutifully trotted out on so many occasions now that it’s abundantly clear they, themselves, are nothing more than folklore-in-the-making. Let’s take a look…”
About Nick Redfern
Punk music fan, Tennents Super and Carlsberg Special Brew beer fan, horror film fan, chocolate fan, like to wear black clothes, like to stay up late. Work as a writer.
Most amusing is the number of cryptid sightings that are attributed to “circus train wrecks” and the like – when nobody can come up with the circus train wreck itself. “Musta been an unreported wreck”, they say. Right.
Of course, I first wrote about this in book form, in 1983 in Mysterious America, having penned my thoughts earlier in the 1970s in articles. Here’s a summary I posted on Cryptomundo in 2007: Circus Train Wreck Myth.
Loren, no matter they don’t LOOK like known creatures: the good ole “circus train wreck”. No matter that no one can point to one in the area in years – every skeptic knows circus train wrecks go unreported to the authorities.