Wednesday, December 30, 2009

On the track..of the Sheppey 'big cat.

Neil Arnold aims to film the elusive 'big cat' of Sheppey. The Times Guardian have the story HERE

Sittingbourne 'big cats'.

From KENT ONLINE

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Neil Arnold in the CFZ hot-seat!

Neil Arnood is asked five cryptozoological questions by the CFZ's Oll Lewis. Read it HERE

Thursday, December 10, 2009

The River Medway 'monster'.


In January 2010 the Centre for Fortean Zoology will be publishing their new yearbook, featuring a whole host of cracking articles including one by Neil Arnold on strange creature sightings in the River Medway. From whales, to alleged serpents, this stretch of water harbours several mysteries and you can read all about it by ordering your copy HERE

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Neil to appear on COAST TO COAST AM radio

COAST TO COAST AM is one of the USA's biggest radio stations attracting more than four-million listeners. Neil will be discussing his research into monsters and other strange beasts 6:00 am December 1st (UK time) and 11:30 pm November 30th (US time). Click HERE for more info.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Neil talks about strange beasts in London and the outskirts...

Check out an interview with Neil at THE LONDON WORD where he discusses his research into vampires, winged humanoids, 'big cats' and other mysterious creatures.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Man has penguin stolen...!

A bizarre story from the Isle of Sheppey, HERE

Sunday, October 25, 2009

South-east London and Kent mystery cats...

Over at the Centre for Fortean Zoology daily blog, researcher Richard Muirhead looks into recent reports of strange, exotic cat panics around south-east London and parts of Kent. Read it HERE

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Neil Arnold in CHAT! Magazine


Issue 43, Oct' 29th, page 40-41 of CHAT! Magazine features an article from Neil Arnold on his monster-hunting exploits.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Wallaby sighting...

A wallaby has been sighted at Pluckley, near Ashford. KENT ONLINE have the story.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Neil's Halloween talk on 'big cats'.


Neil's talk on 'big cats' in the local woods, at the 900-year old Abbey Gatehouse, Minster, Sheppey, is now SOLD OUT. As well as Neil's talk, there will be a ghost walk and an offer of witches brew!

Friday, September 18, 2009

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Fortean Times comic strip


The latest issue of Fortean Times Magazine has a nice comic-strip from resident artist Hunt Emerson, in reference to the Weird Wekend in Devon, which Neil spoke at. All the characters involved can be seen in glorious colour. Thanks Hunt!



Saturday, August 22, 2009

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

The 'monkey' of Bexley!

This report came from a woman named Liz:

'I think I saw a monkey run across the road in front of me this morning (11th August 2009) as I was driving from Bexley to Bexleyheath.

It was a sort of greeney, browny stone colour with hanging fur from its skinny limbs and it ran across the road with a slightly sideways skip on back legs and one front leg. It didn’t move like a cat but it was so quick that it had gone before I was aware what was happening. I looked down the drive of the house it had run towards but of course saw nothing. It wasn’t very big, sort of large cat sized but would probably be about 20 – 24 inches tall had it been standing.'

Monday, August 10, 2009

The 'beast' of Blue Bell Hill is back...


The so-called 'beast' of Blue Bell Hill has existed in one for or other since the 1500s when a mysterious creature was spotted near Boxley and Burham. On August 5th 2009 a sheep was killed not far from Blue Bell Hill at a farm which had never, in 40 years, suffered a sheep loss. In the area two piles of fresh excrement were discovered next to the contents of the sheeps gut (digested grass) and a few yards away the eaten, and cleanly rasped remains of a sheep.


Here is one of several photo's taken at the time:


Photo by Neil Arnold

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Why do birds suddenly appear...

Neil has had two encounters of the crow kind...read more HERE

Friday, July 10, 2009

The 'Hairy Man' of Wouldham

MYSTERY ANIMALS OF THE BRITISH ISLES: KENT is littered with tales of strange, hairy humanoids roaming the annals of local folklore. Several witnesses have, over the decades reported encountering bizarre, red-eyed beings in the local woods, mainly in the deep stretches flanking the village Blue Bell Hill, near Maidstone. Recently, an Ann Partridge whilst reading the book, mentioned a tale she was told in the 1960s by her grandmother in regards to Wouldham, a small village near Blue Bell Hill. Ann said that when she was a child her grandmother used to speak of the 'hairy man' of Wouldham which she encountered on occasion in the local woods. So, it seems that although we clearly ARE NOT dealing with a Bigfoot in our local woods, we do in fact have some kind of creature embedded in the history of these places as a wildman, or 'wudwose'.

For some reason these ancient places harbour a lot of high strangeness, but we don't know why, but the more these kind of reports are mentioned, the more eye-witnesses come forward to see of things which surely can not be...or can they ?

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Neil giving a talk...

Neil will be discussing his adventures in search of exotic cats and 'monsters' at the PHANTOM ENCOUNTERS fayre, Witham in Essex, Saturday July 11th.

Monday, June 29, 2009

The Maidstone Monkey!

A Mr Price reported that a year or so ago, in the wilds of Maidstone, he was awoken one night by a startled domestic cat. Upon reaching his bedroom window and looking out he was amazed to see a 'monkey' bound along and head off towards the woods. Mr Price had seen a large puma a few years before but the last thing he expected was a monkey. In height he stated that the creature was Labrador-size, but the length smaller than a domestic cat, as on all fours it leaped by.

The witness stated that the primate was larger than a capuchin, which inhabit South America, the Weeper Capuchin however, which lives in the north-eastern region of South America, can measure up to18 inches in length, whilst the Brown Capuchin (which inhabits much of north, east and central South America) is similar in size. Mr Price said the animal was brownish in colour but hard to tell under the street lights, and it seems very likely the animal had escaped from a private menagerie.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

What the papers say...

The Sheerness Times Guardian of Thursday 25th June 2009:

From Our Files

50 years ago...A Sheerness man attacked by a bear as he slept was refusing to talk to reporters. He was humiliated by the deep scratches to his head, hands and face, which were caused by a honey bear, the same size as a child's teddy bear.

The creature, which had been brought to England by a relative, had been locked in the bathroom, but was let out in error by the man's wife. Charles O' Neill was fast asleep at home in Medway Road when he awoke to find the bear clawing at him. The animal was caught and accepted into London Zoo.

Mr O' Neill was deeply embarrassed by the incident, calling it "bizarre in the extreme".

Monday, June 15, 2009

A strange Sussex tale...

Taken from Richard Jefferies 1879 work, WILD LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY, Neil's latest CFZ post HERE

Friday, June 12, 2009

What is the mystery behind Thanet's strange object ?

THIS IS KENT investigate the strange, black, triangular object photographed for GoogleMaps, which appeared a mile or so off Thanet, kent.

Painted Ladies invade Kent...

The beaches of Thanet have been visited by enigmatic butterflies...courtesy of THIS IS KENT

An Interview With Neil Arnold...

Nick Redfern is a well known author who resides in Texas. At his MONSTER USA blog he talks to Neil Arnold about hunting monsters.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

BOOK SIGNING

Neil Arnold will be giving a talk and signing copies of MYSTERY ANIMALS OF THE BRITISH ISLES: KENT at The Bookshop, New Ash Green, 7 The Row, Longfield, Kent, DA3 8JB - 8:00 pm.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Neil interviewed at The Ghost Writer's Society

Neil Arnold talks about his research into big cats, and other strange beasts. HERE at the Ghost Writer's Society.

Monday, May 11, 2009

African wild dogs roaming Kent ?

Several months ago it was reported that a pack of dholes (African wild dog) had escaped from a Kent zoo. Moat were recaptured, the rest shot, according to reports. Now, a lady named Denise has come forward to report her sighting of unusual creature roaming the Lyminge area, not far from where the original animals escaped, she writes:

"On Friday the 8th of may at about 6.30 am , I believe I saw what was a fox but taking another look as the animal was moving slowly and deliberately in stalk an sniffing the road , I think it may have been an African wild dog .
I phoned my husband who contacted Port Lympne zoo who say they have counted all of their's an none missing ,
I'm sure it wasn't an ordinary dog as the legs were very slim to the hip brown mottled grey colour with large white tip to its tail which was bushy at the tip
Has there been any other reports in the skeet , and Brady rd area of or around Lyminge."

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

More on the Channel creature.

Richard Freeman and co reveal the 'Channel Creature' mystery to be nothing more than, as suspected, a dodgy hoax: http://forteanzoology.blogspot.com/2009/05/richard-freeman-its-hoax-folks.html

Saturday, May 2, 2009

School of Pilot whales.

Peter Cook, a weekly columnist for the Medway Messenger, recalled in an email:

"My personal recollection is of a whole school of pilot whales coming up the Thames in the 1960s when I was a cub reporter on the Gravesend Reporter. There were about 40 of them. A magnificent sight. I went out in a boat with our photographer Arnold Bearman and still have a couple of prints somewhere. The Billy Smarts Circus people tried to catch one but were warned off by the PLA because of course everything in the London river belongs to the Queen. The whales had apparently come up after a shoal of whitebait. They got as far as Tower Bridge I believe."

Friday, May 1, 2009

The Channel Creature - what is it all about ?!

You may have seen the advert's in the local press ? You may have seen the dodgy You Tube footage ? Now you decide: http://www.thechannelcreature.com/

Is this website for real ? Or just some awful publicity/promotional stunt ? Or is there a really a creature lurking in the Channel between Dover (Kent) and France. Of course not...

Dangerous jellyfish on the shore...

News from the BBC of a Portuguese Man-o'-war being found at West Sussex

The Stranded Whale of Sandwhich Bay

Link HERE

Various links for Marine Wildlife stranding etc.

Various species of whales, dolphins etc, have been stranded/caught around the south-coast. Link HERE for the details.

More south coast dolphin sightings.

Link HERE

Dolphins around Sussex

Link HERE

The mystery skull of Shoreham


This impressive photo was taken by a Robert Clark. on 3rd September 2003 . Uusually these kind of finds paint pictures of great sea serpents but in this case, the mystery was solved.

A large whale skull was landed at Shoreham (Monteum's Wharf, River Adur) from a small (under 10 metres length) trawler fishing three miles off Brighton Marina, Sussex.

Info provided by: British Marine Life Study Society
More details can be found HERE


Jack Pocock and the river monster.

A bizarre tale concerning Medway man and his tales of a monstrous creature said to lurk in the River Medway. For more, click HERE

Octopus invasions along the south coast..

Richard Muirhead investigates some strange visitor's in his CFZ BLOG

Friday, April 24, 2009

More Kentish tales!

As if Neil Arnold's book wasn't big enough...here are more tales..which didn't make the book, pertaining to a few Kentish, and also London beasts.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Friday, March 20, 2009

MYSTERY ANIMALS OF KENT - OUT NOW.

BUY THE BOOK AT AMAZON

From publisher Jonathan Downes (CFZ Press):

"After months of work, this remarkable book is finally available. It is the bulkiest book we have ever done, and with over 270,000 words the longest apart from 'Monster Hunter' and 'Dragons: More than a Myth?'

Neil is to be congratulated for such an extraordinary piece of writing. A large proportion of the book concerns big cats, but as Neil - despite his detractors - is one of the leading mystery cat researchers in the country, this is hardly surprising. However, what makes it so much better than yer run of the mill 'big cat' books which seem to be largely rehashed press cuttings, and in which the sentence "...err it was black, it had a long tail and looked like my Labrador," seem to be repeated over and over again ad nauseam, this is the first-hand story of years of dedication and hands-on research.

The non-cat chapters are equally as interesting, covering a whole gamut of subjects from out-of-place animals to what Neil calls the 'nameless anomalies' which would not be out of place in an episode of 'The X-Files' from about ten years ago.I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

It's only £14.99 which is hardly extortionate in this day and age, and in the unlikely instance that you don't like it, it is so substantial that you can use it as a door stop, throw it at your dog, or wrap it in a pillow-case to make a handy cosh, and tootle on down to your nearest sub-post office. Well done mate."

Paperback: 420 pages; Publisher: Cfz (Mar 2009); Language English; ISBN-10: 1905723369ISBN-13: 978-1905723362; Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.6 x 2.2 cm

Monday, March 9, 2009

The Rochester Rabbit Ripper!

Neil Arnold goes on the track of the Kentish bunny-slayer. Read it HERE

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Is there a dog serial killer in Wouldham ?

The village of Wouldham, near Rochester in Kent, is recovering from shock after several dogs have been found dead and dumped in woodland. The dogs, including a Jack Russell,were found to have broken backs, and lacerations.

Follow the links for more info:

The Missing List

This Is Kent

Medway Messenger

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Fossilised skull of giant sea-bird found at Sheppey.

Link HERE

Is there a wolverine on the loose in Kent ?

A strange set of tracks which appeared in a bunker at Southern Valley Golf Course are still causing confusion, and the Centre For Fortean Zoology have published a photo, supplied by Neil Arnold, concerning the tracks. Measuring almost the length of a size 10 foot, and with an elongated heel, the tracks, which were dismissed by some 'experts' as dog prints, resemble something more akin to a wolverine, a member of the Mustelid family. Whatever made the tracks measures around four-feet in length, and although wolverines have five claws, zoologist Richard Freeman stated that the fifth claw may not always be visible in prints. Check the link HERE

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

More dead rabbits in the trees ?

Dear Neil

It was with great interest that I read your post regarding the rabbit in the tree which was sighted at the Kent university campus. This is very similar to something that I have witnessed myself in Lewes, Sussex on a larger scale and for which I have ever been able to find an adequate explantion. Six or so years ago I lived in Lewes and my partner and I were walking up the footpath which runs paralel to the B2192 towards the cliff. We noticed some 13 or so dead rabbits hung in the canopy's of the trees. On average one dead rabbit per tree and hung a good twenty or more feet high, impossible to do without a ladder and some climbing skills. We asked around in town but no one seemed to have any idea how or why the rabbits would be there.


Regards

Lorna

Skelton of 'witch' found !?

Eerie stuff from KENT ONLINE

Friday, February 27, 2009

Mystery of dead rabbit found in tree!

Mystery of the dead rabbit dangling in a tree - From YOUR CANTERBURY

THE macabre sight of a mutilated rabbit left dangling from a tree covered in red ribbons has sent shockwaves around the University of Kent.

Shocked students were left stunned when they spotted the grisly spectacle dangling from a tree close to the university’s campus.And to make the bizarre scene odder, just hours after it was first spotted, the rabbit had been removed and replaced with the chalk outline of the animal at the foot of the tree.

Now police are investigating the incident and say they are taking it seriously.Meanwhile, students have been whipping themselves into a frenzy of speculation and rumour as to who could be behind the incident.The dead rabbit was hanging from the tree above the footpath that leads down from Tyler Court to St Stephen’s Hill.Drama student Jessie Rawlinson said: “Some of my friends were walking home from class and saw this rabbit hanging from a tree with its insides hanging out. The tree was covered in red ribbons.“I went down to the tree next morning and the rabbit was gone, with just a chalk outline drawn underneath.“The ribbons were still tied to the tree though. It’s absolutely horrendous and whoever is responsible should be stopped.”Miss Rawlinson said the story was all around campus, but so far the university authorities have refused to comment.

Psychology students posting on a popular online social networking site have made the chilling observation that various studies have indicated a link between animal cruelty and serial killers.Psychology student Samantha Leivers said: “Just to make everyone a little more freaked out, most serial murderers start off torturing and killing animals first.”Other students have called for the authorities to take a hard line on instances of animal cruelty, especially if the culprit turns out to be a fellow student.A spokesman for Canterbury police said: “We have been made aware by local students that a dead rabbit was tied to a tree on the stairs leading up to the university campus, just past Downs Road. “The incidents happened two weeks ago, but police were not made aware until recently. “We would urge anyone with information to contact PCSO Gary Painter on 07772 226195 or call Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. Calls are free and you do not have to give your name.”

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Wild dogs escape from Howlett's Zoo Park

Follow the links below to read about the recent activities concerning the escaped Dhole's (wild dogs) from Howlett's. Tragically, of the several escapees, two were shot dead. Considering such animals are not a threat to humans and vulnerable as a species, we have to ask why such drastic action was taken.

Link 1 - KENT NEWS

Link 2 - BBC

Link 3 - Kent Online (with video)

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

River Medway 'monster' solved ? Not likely.

Over at the Centre For Fortean Zoology, Kent resident Patrick Noble attempts to explain just what was seen in 2008 making its way up the River Medway. Several residents watched a creature, or creatures, swimming towards the stretch of water near Amadeus nightclub. Was the object a real creature, or several, with many suggesting porpoises, or was the mysery nothing more than a piece of wood ?

Monday, February 9, 2009

Bluewater black leopard seen again...


What killed the crabs ?

What was behind the deaths of thousands of crabs washed up on the Kent coast ? KENT ONLINE investigates...

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Kent Online coverage of the sheep attacks.

After a recent spate of attacks on sheep by dogs, Kent Online have covered the story HERE (with video) which is distressing local farmers.

Friday, January 16, 2009

More sheep savaged...

Police in the Downs Road area of Canterbury had to shut off several roads, causing traffic congestion, after two dogs were said to have attacked and killed a handful of sheep. KENT ON SUNDAY ran the story HERE

Monday, January 12, 2009

Neil to appear on White Noise Radio

Neil will be taking a look back at a year of mysteries at WHITE NOISE RADIO on Friday 16th January from 10:00 pm.

Red frogs, wall lizards, and thousands of slo-worms...yep, Kent is thriving!

Link HERE

Looking for beasts on your bike...

Website Cycling4x4 gives a brief mention to this website, and asks whether there's a possibility that anyone travelling through the Kent wilds may in fact come across a strange creature such as an exotic cat.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

What has killed 40 sheep..and an ostrich ?

KENT ONLINE have reported that in the Ulcombe area, more than 40 sheep, and an ostrich have been killed since November 2008, by an unknown predator although police, who have mounted nightly vigils, believe dogs are responsible.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

KENT - BIG CAT CAPITAL


KENT ONLINE interviews Neil Arnold and takes a look back at 2008 regarding his 'big cat' research, highlighting hot-spot areas where animals such as black leopards and puma have been sighted, with Thanet, Sheppey and Maidstone featuring heavily.