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A team of paranormal
investigators from Exeter believe they may have identified a giant
creature being held responsible for attacks on swans in Lancashire.
Sightings of
the creature, dubbed the Monster of Martin Mere, were reported earlier
this year by visitors to the bird reserve at Burscough, in West
Lancashire.
Now a four-man team from the Exeter-based Centre for Fortean Zoology
say they have seen a "very big fish" during a 24-hour watch at the
Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust beauty spot near Ormskirk.
Organisation members, who claim to have pursued vampires in Mexico,
dragons in Thailand and skunk apes in Florida, have launched a four-day
operation in an attempt to crack the mystery of the fish.
They are spending four days at Martin Mere using infrared cameras,
military-style night lights and "fish finder" sonar equipment in
a bid to find out more about the mystery beast.
Director Jonathan Downes, who said he was somewhat sceptical when
he first heard reports of the fish, believes the monster may be
a Wels catfish.
Native to mainland Europe and introduced into parts of the UK in
the late 19th Century, the Wels catfish is the largest freshwater
fish in the world and can reach a length of 16ft, according to Mr
Downes.
More modestly-sized specimens have been found in the area near Martin
Mere and with a lifespan of up to 100 years, the monster could date
back to Queen Victoria's reign.
"If it is a Wels, it is almost certainly a British record," added
Mr Downes.
The "eight-foot fish" was first spotted yesterday by team member
and qualified cryptozoologist Richard Freeman who is hoping to capture
the creature on film.
He said: "I have seen something black and shiny snaking around in
the water in almost the same place as the original sighting several
months ago. It certainly looked like a Wels catfish.
"However we will be carrying out further investigations over the
weekend in hope of obtaining photographic proof".
Mr Freeman said the fish had no scales, had a "rubbery" appearance,
was oily-black in colour and moved quickly through the water.
"I can't say for sure that it was a Wels catfish. But if a pike
had attacked the swans there would have been wounds. This thing
seems to come up underneath and drag its prey down under the water."
Reports of a larger-than-life creature living in the 17-acre lake
were first voiced four years ago and the Martin Mere monster has
since become a talking point among people living near the 380-acre
reserve which regularly attracts Hooper and Bewick swans.
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