The UK reports more cryptids – creatures whose existence has not been scientifically proved, than any other country, including the USA. Many of the encounters disclosed are based on an individual’s identification of a previously catalogued animal found in the locality though not a native species of the region. In the majority of cases, sightings happen in more rural regions of the UK, particularly in Northwest Wales, Northern Scotland and Western Ireland though also occurring elsewhere across the British Isles. British cryptids can generally be categorised as one of the following: sea serpents, dragons, felines, canines, miscellaneous creatures and will-o’-the-wisps.
The typical environments in which sea serpents are located are isolated coastal stretches in Southern England, Western Ireland or north-west Scotland, or in large rural lakes, such as Loch Ness in Inverness, and Llyn Tegid in Gwynedd. These creatures tend to have long-necks, smooth grey skin, slim stream-lined bodies and sizeable heads with beady eyes. They can be mistaken with long-necked seals, large trout or as plesiosaurs and other dinosaurs which have previously been declared extinct. They have been sighted sporadically in various locations around the UK since the 17th century. It has been found, however, that scientists have been too quick to abandon hope for the existence of such prehistoric creatures; recently, an ancient fish surviving from the last Ice Age has been identified in Llyn Tegid – possibly, the only place on earth where it can still survive.
In Wherwell, Hampshire, and Saffron Walden, Essex, there are many reports of local encounters with dragons in recent years. Both the Wherwell Cockatrice and the Saffron Walden basilisk resemble one-foot-tall upright dragons with legs, feet and heads very similar to those of chickens. They can be seen at night when their eyes glow red, terrifying any who see them. Southern England is also famous for sightings of large, black, nocturnal felines - the beasts of Bodmin, Exmoor and Exeter. Local folklore is that these wild cats are dangerous as they often mutilate livestock and terrify small children. More plausible explanations for these creatures are that they are black panthers or pumas which escaped into the wild in the 1970s and have since sustained a large breeding population in the rural moors.
Many towns in Great Britain have reported sightings of their own wild animals. Last year in Wanstead, a park ranger reported seeing a wild bear. Further research confirmed that this bear was likely to be a small Asian deer that had recently escaped from nearby Epping Forest. Locals from Allendale Hexham in Northumberland, Cannock Chase, and Lytham have regularly sighted large, black, nocturnal, muscular canines regularly since the 18th century. It is unclear whether these canines are dogs, foxes, wolves or something else entirely different.
Historical records show more unusual sightings in isolated locations. Across the UK, will-‘o-the-wisps, or flickering lights, have been seen to hover over bogs, swamps and marshes. Originally supposed to be fairies and fairy dust, it is commonly believed today that these lights are spontaneous combustion of excess gas released from the decomposition of marsh material. They are thus particularly prevalent on hot, summer days.
Biological records and scientific knowledge has made significant advances since records of cryptids were first compiled, yet there is still more research, exploration and discoveries to be made to enable a full account of the creatures which seem more abundant and common in the UK than anywhere else.
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