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Iguana like animal in North Wales |
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David Bird
Forum Specialist Joined: 11 Apr 2011 Location: Dorset Status: Offline Points: 6 |
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I think that I may be the person responsible for the Tuatera theory but have been unable to find a file on alien species which should have the original correspondence in, I really need an extra house for all my books and papers.
I had discussed the 1987 letter with Jon Gaughan (A forum member) on a Sunday BHS task at the time and rather tongue in cheek mentioned that it could be a Tuatera from the description, I also knew that that the Rev.G.C.Bateman in his 1897 book The Vivarium had mentioned how to keep them and that they were sold in the pet trade for what was at the time quite a sum. Bateman had kept them himself and I am certain that I had seen somewhere that he had lived in N.Wales close to the mentioned village before moving to Jacobstowe, N.Devon. I have been unable to subsantiate this tonight and hope that I did not think that Bratton Clovelly was in N.Wales which is where he moved to after Jacobstowe. A while after John sent me a photocopy of a letter that he had received from Dr.Karl Shuker where amongst other subjects he mentioned the idea of his friend, so John, who knew him, had obviously mentioned my view to him.
Karl Shuker one of the U.K's original cryptozoologists has written about the possiblility in his books From Flying Toads to Snakes with Wings 1997 and The Beasts that hide from Man 2003.
I expect that others have taken this up more recently using this information but would be interested to hear if anyone has come to the same conclusion via some other information.
I hope this may have helped to shed light on the subject.
David
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Iowarth
Admin Group Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Status: Offline Points: 743 |
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Hi David Certainly provides a little more flesh to these interesting stories. I hadn't appreciated that Tuatara had been readily available in this country (albeit "at a price"). While your suggestion was "tongue in cheek" they do seem to fit the description admirably and the combination of their extreme longevity and tolerance of (in fact, preference for) cooler climes would certainly give a good chance of their survival for a great many years. It might be very fanciful - but what a lovely fancy! All the best Chris |
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Chris Davis, Site Administrator
Co-ordinator, Sand Lizard Captive Breeding Programme (RETIRED) |
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Suzy
Senior Member Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1447 |
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I've only just got back on to the forum so apologies for the late posting to this thread. I just wanted to say that my brother, when very young and staying with his grandparents near Blackpool, saw a very similar creature in some woods on the coast. Being a lad, something this size rustling off in a dry ditch was a bit scary to say the least! He still puzzles over what it was so the comments here are all interesting.
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Suz
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Dr Devo
Member Joined: 20 May 2011 Location: Macclesfield Status: Offline Points: 13 |
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Dear Suzy This is very interesting. By "on the coast" do you mean near Blackpool or N.Wales? Do you have a date? Also,do you have his current contact details so I can ask him more questions if he is willing?Did he ever say what species of lizard/creature he thought it was?
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"Treat others how you would have them treat you"
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GemmaJF
Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 4359 |
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Dr Devo,
I've another strange sighting for you. Back in the 70's (please don't ask the exact date) I was walking down Flax Lane in Glemsford Suffolk. I saw a lizard like animal, about the length of an adult GCN. It looked 'warty' but moved fast like a lizard. It had distinctive toe pads and the dorsal surface was black with dark red blotches. It ran across the road in front of me and disappeared up the road side bank into a hedge. It was one of a number of reasons I first became interested in native herpetofauna. I got home and tried to look up what I had seen. To this day I still don't know! I never saw it again but often wonder what it was and have yet to find anything that came close to it. Edited by GemmaJF - 05 Jun 2011 at 9:55pm |
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Suzy
Senior Member Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1447 |
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Dr Devo,
My brother saw the creature in Hackensall Woods which are at Knott End on Sea (across the river from Fleetwood). I'll ask him about it. I think it would be in the mid to late 1960s. |
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Suz
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Dr Devo
Member Joined: 20 May 2011 Location: Macclesfield Status: Offline Points: 13 |
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Thanks.My publication about this should be available on amazon.co.uk about October- BioFortean Notes volume 2
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Suzy
Senior Member Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1447 |
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Dr Devo,
I've spoken to my brother who says the creature was about 5ft long and resembled an iguana. |
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Suz
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Dr Devo
Member Joined: 20 May 2011 Location: Macclesfield Status: Offline Points: 13 |
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Thanks
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"Treat others how you would have them treat you"
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Dr Devo
Member Joined: 20 May 2011 Location: Macclesfield Status: Offline Points: 13 |
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Dear Gemma GF I`m very sorry I missed this report from Suffolk,it sounds very interesting.
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