ALIEN ZOO

KARL SHUKER explores the possible identity of a Swedish monster, plus a brand new bird

CATFISH AT THE CASTLE?

In July 2021, courtesy of longstanding cryptozoological friend and artist Richard Svensson from Sweden, I learnt of a fascinating water monster that had hitherto received little if any attention outside that country, but which had lately made headlines there again. I am paraphrasing Richard’s detailed account as follows. The aquatic cryptid in question was sighted in the small Svartån river that passes through, a species believed to attain a total length of up to 10ft (3m) (but most do not exceed 6.5ft/2m), although unconfirmed mega-specimens of up to 16.5ft (5m) long have also been claimed, but as yet remain unproven. Significantly, the wels is indeed native to this region of Sweden. Moreover, as it is a popular species for anglers to catch, it has been introduced into various freshwater locations beyond its native range, so it is not impossible that the wels has been introduced into lakes and rivers elsewhere in Sweden, which might explain various other freshwater monster sightings in this country. Not everyone favours a wels identity for the object in Lindholm’s video, however, with some preferring an eel, whereas certain others do not even deem it to be a living entity, but merely a rope or some other inanimate object, possibly being towed by a boat. Interestingly, it is undulating horizontally while moving through the water, which is the manner in which fishes (and also snakes) do typically swim; aquatic mammals, conversely, swim via vertical undulations.