Hunt Nessie: Sweden Lifts Protection for Lake Monster

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A Swedish lake monster, long considered a mythical creature, is no longer protected as an endangered species, allowing hunters to pursue it. The decision follows claims from numerous individuals who have reported sightings of a serpent-like creature in Lake Storsjon. Legal experts highlight the challenge of protecting a species that lacks scientific proof of existence. The discussion touches on similar mythical creatures, such as Bigfoot, questioning how one could legally define or prove the existence of such beings if they were ever encountered. The conversation also shifts to lighthearted banter about ghost stories and tourism in Scotland, particularly in Edinburgh, known for its haunted reputation. Participants share humorous thoughts on capturing blurry photographs of mythical creatures and ghosts while traveling.
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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051111/ap_on_re_eu/sweden_lake_monster
A mythical monster, believed by some to have lived for hundreds of years in the murky depths of a Swedish lake, is now fair game for hunters — if they can find it. Authorities have agreed to lift its endangered species protection.

Hundreds of people claim to have spotted a large serpent-like creature in Lake Storsjon in the northwestern province of Jamtland, and in 1986 the regional council put it on a list of endangered animals.
"It exists, inasmuch as it lives in the minds of people," the council's chief legal adviser Peter Lif said about the purported beast. "But I guess we'll have to agree that it cannot be proved scientifically, and then it should not be listed as an endangered species."
 
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That's a weird legal problem I'm glad I don't have to sort out: Is it proper to legally protect a species that has never been proven to exist?

It is against the law to shoot a bigfoot in a couple US states. Suppose someone shot one. How could the law prove it was a "bigfoot" that had been shot? There is no scientific documentation of what a bigfoot consists of to point to and say "The dead beast has been given a thorough verternary and biological examination and fits all the criteria. It is a bigfoot." There are no such criteria on record that I'm aware of.
 
zoobyshoe said:
There is no scientific documentation of what a bigfoot consists of to point to and say "The dead beast has been given a thorough verternary and biological examination and fits all the criteria. It is a bigfoot." There are no such criteria on record that I'm aware of.

I guess that's what Cryptozoology PhDs are for. :smile:
 
It's only fair game if they shoot it by accident. Once they see it and confirm its existence, it's endangered again :-p
 
I'm leaving for Scotland in two and a half weeks, and I am staying in Loch Ness for a few nights. I promise to return with many blurry inconclusive photographs
 
NutriGrainKiller said:
I'm leaving for Scotland in two and a half weeks, and I am staying in Loch Ness for a few nights. I promise to return with many blurry inconclusive photographs
You should snap some blurry and inconclusive ghost photos as well: it's one of the most "haunted" countries on earth. The streets of Edinburgh they say, are paved with ectoplasm.
 
If you can snap some blurry and inconclusive photographs of a Nessie ghost I'd be impressed.

zoobyshoe said:
The streets of Edinburgh they say, are paved with ectoplasm.

That conjours a horrific image, it really does...



Anyway, the Highlands are beautiful! Enjoy yourself! (And visit the west coast/Skye if you can. It has the best scenery.)
 
matthyaouw said:
That conjours a horrific image, it really does...
Sorry. No image occurred to me when I wrote it except that of Ghost Tour organizers collecting fees from camera laden tourists.
 
Not a fan of ghost stories eh?
They can, with a bit of imagination, be a bit of harmless fun IMO, but the majority of "spooky happenings" aren't worth much attention. (There is an exception or two, but I won't go into that now.)
 
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matthyaouw said:
Not a fan of ghost stories eh?
They can, with a bit of imagination, be a bit of harmless fun IMO, but the majority of "spooky happenings" aren't worth much attention. (There is an exception or two, but I won't go into that now.)
I'm just poking fun at the fact that Edinburgh has turned itself into a tourist trap for ghost fans. I saw a program about this on the Travel Channel.
 
  • #11
It has? Didn't realize that. York on the other hand...
 

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