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16 January 2000
Loren Coleman is one of the
world's leading specialists regarding
the subject of cryptozoology. Not only has he written many books
on the
subject, but he also has been on many expeditions, including one
he
took last summer to Loch Ness in Scotland. He has an
undergraduate degree in
anthropology (minor zoology) at Southern Illinois University and
he also
received a Masters of Social Work from Simmons College School of
Social Work
in Boston. He has done doctoral work in social anthropology and
sociology-family violence. I thank him for his time in taking
this interview.
Joseph Gagné: Here's a
question to ask to any cryptozoologist: have you
ever seen a real cryptid in your life?
Loren Coleman: My efforts began and continue as an
investigator of
cryptozoological reports. I have felt my major thrust is to
interview
eyewitnesses, examine the evidence, and chronicle the encounters.
Nevertheless, after forty years of field trips, treks, and
expeditions, I
have found myself close to the hidden animals. I have heard
strange noises
and found tracks, but no, I've never seen a cryptid.
JG: In your book,
"The Field Guide To Bigfoot, Yeti, And Other Mystery
Primates Worldwide", you seem to support the idea, or at
least suggest, that
there are many, many kinds of unknown primates like bigfoot
around the
world. Do you really think it is possible that these creatures
are able to
elude us that long, especially with all the kinds of
"species" described in
your book?
LC: As the book (coauthored with Patrick Huyghe) clearly
demonstrates,
especially as you read through the beginning and ending text, the
evidence
is overwhelming for more than one kind of unknown hairy hominoid.
Some are
intelligent, some exist in small numbers, some inhabit areas not
frequented
by man, and many are "hiding in plain sight."
Scientists have ignored
evidence of these creatures for years, and I doubt if that will
change in
the near future without a remarkable break-through.
JG: Which creature do you
think will be most likely discovered first?
LC: Hey, what do you want me to do, give away all the
secrets of the book?
There's a section called "Best Bets" that discusses the
ones which may be
discovered first. It's a short list, and I'll give you the number
one
choice: Orang Pendek of Sumatra.
JG: But do you think that
these creatures should really be discovered? Most
people think that they would be better off left alone.
LC: Until they are discovered, they will be merely dealt
with legally and
scientifically as wisps of smoke, as legends and myths. Formal
endangered
species and habitat protection cannot be give to wisps of smoke.
I think
you can understand why I think discovery must be pursued.
JG: There will be a new
movie based on one of your books, which will be
produced by Nicolas Cage. Can you tell us how the movie is going?
What are
your hopes or expectations for "Tom Slick: Monster
Hunter"?
LC: Variety published a mention of my book
being the only Tom Slick book when
they announced that Nicolas Cage, Saturn Films, and 20th Century
Fox were
going to produce a movie on Tom Slick's monster-hunting life. But
I have
not been contracted, paid, or consulted with regard to this film.
JG: The chupacabra is
known for killing and mutilating cattle. If it really
is a primate, why does it act this way? I've never heard of such
ferocity in
known primates, like the gorilla (which is relatively peaceful)
and chimps
(who are occasionally carnivorous, but not this savage).
LC: I suggest that anyone that does not understand the
ferocity of primates have
not been around baboons and mandrills who have been known to kill
leopards
and young humans. Perhaps you are mixing up "apes" for
"primates" here. We
are unsure what kind of primate a Chupacabras might be, but it's
looks may
be more frightening than its actions. And they are generally
blamed for small
livestock killings, such as goats, not cattle.
JG: What happened on your
expedition last summer to Loch Ness?
LC: As many people know, I was scheduled originally to
go abroad Dan Scott
Taylor's minisub into Loch Ness. I made plans to go, and Dan
changed his
plans. He did not make it, is suppose to go in May 2000, but is
meeting
resistance from local officials. He also has now invited Roy
Mackal on
board. I decided to go forth with my plans, went to Scotland for
interviews, the world's first cryptozoology symposium at Loch
Ness, and
several surface watching-trips. I am very pleased with my
mini-expeditions.
I have since written a column for Fate on last summer's
examination of this
epicenter of cryptozoology, and others discussed the symposium in
other
publications.
JG: What are your future
plans?
LC: I have many treks, books, and other projects in the
works. People can
follow what I am doing by checking in with my website
http://www.lorencoleman.com/ now and then.
JG: Let's say I would
someday see a bigfoot or some other mystery primate.
What should I do?
LC: If you have the field guide, read the last page.
It's all there.
JG: Any tips for
those amateur cryptozoologists out there?
LC: Follow your passions. Study hard. Get out and learn
about animals. My
other book of 1999, Cryptozoology A to Z: The Encyclopedia of
Loch
Monsters, Sasquatch, Chupacabras, and Other Authentic Mysteries
of Nature by
Loren Coleman and Jerome Clark (NY: Fireside/Simon and Schuster,
1999) has
a lot of insights for new cryptozoologists.
JG: Again, I thank Loren
Coleman for this moment. Good luck to you!
LC: Thank you, it was good talking to you today.
For more information on
Loren Coleman and his work, check out his site at:
www.lorencoleman.com