Phantoms and Monsters

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

This Week on 'Beyond the Edge' Radio: Cryptozoologist / Author Richard Freeman

Join Eric & Lon in welcoming cryptozoologist and author Richard Freeman

Richard Freeman is a cryptozoologist, author, zoological journalist, and WebTV Presenter. He is also the zoological director of the Centre for Fortean Zoology (CFZ), and co-edits both the journal, Animals & Men and several editions of the annual CFZ Yearbook. Freeman has written, co-written, or edited a number of books, and has contributed widely to both Fortean and zoological magazines, as well as other newspapers and periodicals, including Fortean Times and Paranormal Magazine.

He has also lectured across the UK at events such as the Fortean Times Unconvention, the Weird Weekend, Microcon and at museums such as the Natural History Museum, the Grant Museum of Natural History and the Last Tuesday Society.

When interviewed by author Nick Redfern in 2005, Freeman claimed an early obsession with the classic science fiction series Dr Who (with Jon Pertwee) had sparked an interest in all things weird. After school he became a zookeeper at Twycross Zoo in the West Midlands and became head keeper of reptiles, working with more than 400 exotic species from ants to elephants (but with a special interest in crocodilians). After leaving the zoo, he worked in an exotic pet shop, a reptile rescue centre, and as a gravedigger.

In 1995, Freeman began studying zoology at Leeds University. Whilst on holiday from the university, he learned of the CFZ and bought a copy of the Centre's journal, Animals & Men, which left him impressed enough to subscribe and begin contributing. He eventually became the CFZ's Yorkshire representative and, once the course had ended, moved to Devon to become a full-time member of the Centre. He is now the zoological director and co-editor of Animals & Hens.

Richard's cryptozoological expeditions:

-Thailand in 2000 for a species of a giant crested snake known as the naga.
-Sumatra, Indonesia in 2003 for an upright walking ape called orang-pendek.
-Sumatra in 2004 again to look for the orang-pendek.
-Mongolia in 2005 for the Mongolian death worm.
-The Gambia in 2006 for a dragon-like, the Ninki Nanka.
-Guyana in 2007 for the giant anaconda, the di-di (a yeti like homonid), the water tiger (a spotted semi-aquatic, flesh eating mammal), and the bushmen, an unrecorded race of three foot pigmies with red faces. He also heard of what may be a tiny, new species of caiman with a red strip running along its back.
-Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia in 2008 for the almasty, a relic hominid.
-Sumatra in 2009 for the orang-pendek
-India in 2010 for the Mande-Barung or Indian yeti
-Sumatra in 2011 for the orang-pendek

ORANG PENDEK: Sumatra's Forgotten Ape

SEE YOU IN THE CHAT ROOM!