MYSTERY ANIMALS OF KENT

Just when you thought it was safe....Neil Arnold's unique, mammoth volume MYSTERY ANIMALS OF KENT will be released around February '09, as part of the CFZ's MYSTERY ANIMALS OF THE BRITISH ISLES series. The book will be available through all good bookstores and from the author...if you're going to own one book on Kent, make it this one. Featuring Neil's research on 'big cats' locally, as well as monster-hunt's in search of phantom hounds, winged creatures, out of place wolves and other zoo escapee's and releases into the countryside, plus tales of serpents on the Kent coast, strange beasts lurking in local lakes, rivers and ponds, as well as a chronicle of even weirder 'monsters' loitering in the 'garden of England'. MYSTERY ANIMALS OF KENT is the book on local folklore, and is written from the field by the counties leading folklorist.

Monsters of Blue Bell Hill, Maidstone.

In the January 2009 issue (31) of Paranormal Magazine Neil Arnold has an article on mysterious creatures sighted within the vicinity of Blue Bell Hill. From large cats, to strange red-eyed humanoids, and from terrifying hah-like spectres to phantom hounds.

Another deadly spider find...

Deadly Spider Found in Banana Box

A supermarket cashier came face-to-face with a deadly South American spider when she found it nestling in a bunch of bananas she was unpacking. Kate Whitmore, 25, picked up the bananas along with the highly venomous Phoneutria nigriventer."I held it close to my face and thought, 'What is that?' she said. "It wasn't a very nice spider."The Co-op in Wayfield Road, Chatham, Kent had to be closed on Monday while the RSPCA dealt with the spider.The charity advised staff to keep the spider contained and not to approach it until the animal collection officer arrived.'Very aggressive'"He lifted the bunch of bananas with leather gloves and put it in a box which had a separate container," said mother-of-two Ms Whitmore."As he nudged it to try to move it into the container, the spider reared up, hissing and put its fangs out."It made us all jump."RSPCA officers Anthony Pulfer said: "It was very aggressive and trying to go for me when I was putting it in the box."It was really jumping around and trying to attack me."It was only after it was taken away to be put down that staff discovered the 1.5in-long spider, which is thought to have travelled in the fruit packaging from Colombia, had a painful and potentially lethal bite.Phoneutria nigriventer ranks alongside the black widow and funnel- web as one of the world's most dangerous spiders."I'm not frightened of spiders... but I was advised not to touch it," said Ms Whitmore."It's only afterwards you think about what could have happened if I'd got bitten?"

BBC News: September 2008

Neil giving a talk...

At Gravesend Roatry Club, at the Masonic Hall, Wrotham Road, 1:30 pm on Monday 3rd November 2008

Neil giving a talk.

On Thursday 30th October at 10:30 am, Neil will be appearing at the 'Day With A Difference' at Holmesdale Tech College, Malling Road, Snodland, in Kent.

Killer whales spotted on Kent coast...

Kent Online feature the story HERE regarding killer whales off Folkestone

Wednesday October 15th - Put it in your diary..

For those of you in the south, Neil Arnold will be discussing 'big cat' sightings on the Isle of Sheppey as part of the BBC Inside Out series on BBC Wednesday 15th October at 7:30 pm.

Is the dolphin back ?

From Kent Online

Raccoon remains!

The remains of a raccoon have been found in Canterbury. The details were forwarded to me by Peter Smith of Wildwood Park in Herne, who said that despite this unfortunate discovery, there appears to be a family of such animals living in the Canterbury area.

Strange beasts, UFOs etc...the Medway Messenger investigates.

Link HERE for the strange going's on.

Find the ssssnake!

Link HERE from the Sheerness Times Guardian

Two big Mirror Carp caught

Courtesy of the Kent Messenger

Kentish Bigfoot!

In the October Issue (28) of Paranormal Magazine there is not only a review of Neil Arnold's Mosnter! THE A-Z OF ZOOFORM PHENOMENA, but also a fantastic article by Nick Redfern on the possibility of a British Bigfoot. In the article he mentions an encounter in Kent which is mentioned in MONSTER! and also Neil's upcoming book MYSTERY ANIMALS OF KENT. Check it out...

Deadly spider in the bananas.

More from Kent Online

A wallaby in Kent ?

At Kent Online.

Another snake story...

Courtesy of Kent Online

Snake still on the loose in Medway

Read it HERE

Grass snake snapped eating a fish.

This story from Kentish Express

Albino peacock

Hardly a 'monster', but this beautiful bird roams the gardens of Leeds Castle, Maidstone.

Photo by Neil Arnold 2008.

Albino starling spotted.

Thanet Extra

Thanet seals.

From the Thanet Extra

Have You Seen Our Boa Constrictor ?!

From Kent Online

Black Leopard seen at Thanet

Follow the link HERE

The Swarm!

Bees invade Canterbury.

Hunt for 'monster' python which attaked dog...

This report from 2004

Kent carp caught is biggest in UK

KENT ONLINE reports

A fish...or just a rock ?

Kent Online story regarding a fossilised fish head... HERE Image courtesy of the Messenger.

Monster in the River Medway ?

From the Medway Messenger 7th July 2008:

Monster Mystery: Could there be something fishy going on in the river ?

Does the River Medway have its own Nessie ? A strange creature has been spotted swimming against the tide near the Esplanade, Rochester. On Thursday (3rd) the Medway Messenger newsroom received calls from Rochester residents who said they had seen the strange sight in the water. Some believed it was a pod of porpoises but one woman thought she had spied a single animal.

She said: "It was about 30 ft long, dark brown and mottled grey in colour. It was undulating like an eel and swimming towards Amadeus nightclub."

The sighting is similar to descriptions of Scotland's famous Loch Ness monster. Medway monster-hunter Neil Arnold who researches mystery animal sightings said, "I can only assume the witnesses did indeed see a large creature, possibly an eel, or misidentified several creatures together. Eels don't grow to 30 ft in length, so maybe a whale ? Seals have been spotted locally but they do not reach such a length."

Photo by Neil Arnold of stretch of water where a creature was seen.

Something in the water...

Mystery animal of Herne Bay. Read it HERE

MYSTERY ANIMALS OF THE BRITISH ISLES SERIES

The crew at the wonderful Centre For Fortean Zoology will be publishing a huge unique series called 'Mystery Animals Of...' pertaining to a majority of the counties in the British Isles. Here is the link at Nick Redfern's site with mention of my two books on London and Kent forthcoming.

BEXLEY TALK ON BIG CAT RESEARCH

Neil Arnold will be giving a talk on his exotic cat research at the BEXLEY U3A, ROBERT'S HALL, behind CHRIST CHURCH BROADWAY, BEXLEYHEATH, DA6 8DG at 2:00 PM on THURSDAY 8th May 2008

MANBEAST UK! A new website.

Author and friend Nick Redfern has a new blog pertaining to legends and reports of mysterious hairy humanoids roaming the UK, could there be a Bigfoot prowling Britain ? Check the blog HERE

TIME OUT Magazine April 10th-16th

Neil has written an article on strange creatures around London for TIME OUT magazine (page 52)

THE CAT magazine

Neil Arnold is interviewed in the Spring 2008 issue of THE CAT magazine.

Popoise in river.

On March 10th 2008 the Medway Messenger reported that:

'Medway could have its own answer to Jaws - A creature with a shark-like fin, has been spotted swimming up and down the River Medway and is thought to be chasing shoals of fish. But the fin actually belongs to a Harbour Porpoise and not a Great White Shark. One resident described the marine mammal spinning in the water, while others said it looked like it was playing. The Harbour Porpoise is one of the smallest marine mammals and is commonly seen alone in shallow waters or estuaries. Some have even been spotted hundreds of miles from the sea.'

White Squirrel photographed

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/news/default.asp?article_id=39159

BEASTS OF LONDON website makes 'Time Out' magazine's TOP 50

Neil's BEASTS OF LONDON website has been voted in 'Time Out' magazines TOP 50 London-based websites.

Check out the link here: http://www.timeout.com/london/features/4273.html?DCMP=OTC-Mag-50BestWebsites

Do Big Cats Roam The Kent Countryside ?

Find out HERE in the Kent Online poll plus coverage of recent sightings.

Thousands of star-fish on Kent beach.

Read the report here

MYSTERY ANIMALS OF KENT

Neil is currently working on his next book MYSTERY ANIMALS OF KENT so if you've a strange tale to tell regarding a weird sighting or encounter you've had, then get in touch.

Sussex ladybird invasion!

http://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/509/Ladybird-invasion-at-church.3674609.jp

Big cat article

Neil Arnold has an article on 'big cat' sightings and hysteria around London and north Kent in the new Centre For Fortean Zoology Yearbook 2008, available from : http://www.cfz.org.uk/

Neil's book voted 'best of year'!

Cryptomundo.com has voted Neil Arnold's 'MONSTER! THE A-Z OF ZOOFORM PHENOMENA', THE BEST FORTEAN CRYPTOZOOLOGY BOOK OF THE YEAR 2007 http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/cz-books-2007/