Cadborosaurus Update: Baby Version Of Canada's Best Cryptid Finally I.D.?

When I say that Caddy is the nation's best cryptid, I don't necessarily mean that its the best known (that would probably be  Bigfoot, although Ogopogo might give our big monkey man a run for his money).  What I mean is that its existence has been best established.  You see, back in 1937,  on a flensing platform at the whaling station in Naden harbour, Haida Gwaii, a large serpentine carcass was pulled from the belly of a sperm whale.  Several pictures were taken of it, including the one below:

Although the carcass was lost, these photos have inspired a fair bit of rigorous scientific thinking about the nature of the animal pictured for, while there have been recent alleged sightings, the video "evidence" produced in support of these have been disappointing at best.  This old post from Darren Naish summarizes the available research, and includes the wonderful speculative sketch of the beast below:

Now, a word about Darren Naish.  Along with Loren Coleman, he is modern Cryptozoology's best friend--a real paleontologist who has stooped to take an interest in the unidentified animals that swim in our oceans and roam our forests.  For instance, he has argued that the existence of "sea monsters" is really quite likely, if this term is interpreted to mean some hitherto unknown species of long-necked pinniped.  He has even pointed out that descriptions of such an animal exist in the scientific literature from several centuries ago ( Parsons: A dissertation upon the Class of the Phocae Marinae):

Well, a key piece of the Caddy legend is the 1968 report by one Captain William Hagelundto the effect that he had captured (and then released) a baby cadborosaur.  Darren thinks he has I.D.ed the baby Caddy, and is publishing paper on the topic entitled ‘A baby sea-serpent no more: reinterpreting Hagelund’s juvenile “cadborosaur” report’.  Alas!  I fear he is right.  You can read the whole argument through the link, but the picture below kind of sums it up:

A bay pipefish?  Its kind of like a sea-horse.  Now, it doesn't explain the adult Caddy, though a few have argued for the existance of some unknown species of gigantic pipefish as being the best explanation, generically speaking, for a number of sea serpents report.  But it does seem a good explanation of this particular incident.

Cadborosaurus, You Have Crushed My Soul!

The long-awaited footage of the Alaskan Cadborosaurus is just a freakin' wave.  Discount the guys in the video.  They're fishermen, after all. I hate you, Caddy!  I hate you!

Background here.  But I can write no more.  Tears stain my keyboard.

Off To The Left Coast

Am leaving this morning for 10 days in beautiful B.C. (next to awful Alberta and Somnambulant Sask.). Will be walking, checking out the local Meaderies, book hunting, and maybe stalking Caddy out by UVIC. Also letting mom cook for me, and arguing with dad and the little brother. I'll post on a somewhat looser schedule, and may seem unusually mellow. Back after labour day.

Caddy In The News

Some time during September, the Discovery Channel will air brand new footage of no less than a dozen swimming specimens of Cadborosaurus willsi, B.C.s 2nd best known (after Sasquatch) cryptid, and the one with the best claim to reality:

The footage was obtained by a Washington state fishing boat captain (his name is known to myself and other cryptozoological investigators who have looked at the footage) who fishes in Alaskan waters in the summer. He and his two sons were on the deck of their boat when they noticed a herd of dark coloured creatures with serrated backs being chased down a channel by a pod of beluga whales. They were stunned to see these animals as they resembled no known animal they had ever seen in their years of fishing.

This is from an account by cryptozoologist John Kirk, who has seen the footage in question:

As the creatures pull level with the boat one is able to see two larger ones protecting what looks like a juvenile from the pursuing belugas. The serrated backs are clearly visible at times. Then one the creatures turns to look in the general direction of the camera and I must say I was stunned because it looked like a living breathing version of the famed Naden Harbour carcass obtained in 1937.

A picture of that carcass can be seen here.

So far, no footage of the animals has emerged, nor any stills. And I must say Mr. Kirk's conclusion comes of as more than a little bit lame:

If these are whales, moose, otters or other known creatures then they are subtypes that no one has ever seen before.

All this excitment over a swimming moose?

In any case, more information here.

And if that wasn't enough cryptozoology for one Sunday morning, here's Darren Naish's latest on the Ozenkadnook Tiger.

Sea Monsters!

Darren Naish explains why they almost certainly exist, but probably aren't late-surviving plesiosaurs. So its a kind of good news/bad news piece.

PS. The sculpture is Cadborosaurus willsi. Here's another even more impressive one.

Monster of Base Naden Re-Lives!

The original Cadborosaurus carcass, taken from a whale's belly off Victoria and brought to Base Naden (in Equimalt). Probably the most impressive image of a sea-going cryptid in existence.

Lee Murphy's reconstruction (view of head).

B.C. Sea Monsters!

Ogopogo is back, and there's supposed to be a picture currently being developed! Interesting bit from the story:

...peak season for Ogopogo sightings is from late August to the third week of September.

Hmm. Since Ogopogo usually takes the form of an anomalous wave or wake, could there be something weather-wise going on during this time that generates such things?

Unfortunately, there's still no sign of Cadborosaurus willsi (pictured above left), which used to be seen swimming off my dad's old stomping grounds. And the Times-Colonist story doesn't mention the fact that the actual physical evidence for Caddy, in comparison to other sea/lake monsters, is fairly solid, consisting of a picture of a body pulled from the stomach of a sperm whale.

(...although this website claims that Caddy sightings have taken place right up until present day.)