Monsters in Kansas?
Across the United States of America, many states are known for being home to strange, mysterious, and unexplained creatures. West Virginia has the Mothman, the Pacific Northwest is home to the Sasquatch, and many of the southern states have reports of the Chupacabra. The list goes on. However, when thinking of states known for legendary creatures such as these, Kansas rarely ever comes to mind. However, from the early 20th century until today, reports of strange creatures pop up every now and then. From its most famous legend, Sinkhole Sam, to its own variaty of Bigfoot, Kansas has a few beasts hidden within its beautiful praires.
What is Cryptozoology and Why is it Important?
Cryptozoology is a pseudo-science defined as "the search for and study of animals whose existence or survival is disputed or unsubstantiated, such as the Loch Ness monster and the yeti." It's generally looked down upon by the scientific community as being nothing more than chasing after animals that don't exist, however it's a little more than that. First of all, cryptozoology has a bit of history within it. Much of cryptozoology is examining past events and stories. Looking at the folklore of these creatures, whether they're real or not, and trying to piece together what could or couldn't have happened. Secondly, cryptozoology has proven results on a number of occasions. In the jungles of the Congo, people told stories of a strange chimera of a creature, part giraffe, part zebra. It is know known as the Okapi, and you can see it for yourself at the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita Kansas. For centuries, sailors have told tales of giant tentacled sea monsters. Now we know them as the Giant Squid and Colossal Squid. And of course, scientists were stunned when in the late 1930s, they found a species of ancient fish thought to have long been exinct, unchanged off the coast of South Africa, this of course being the Coelacanth. Cryptozoology may be considered a psuedo-science, and mocked by all, but it has provided results, and at some point, it goes from cryptozoology to zoology. It may only be a matter of time before the next "monster" is proven to be real.
Have Your Own Sighting in Kansas?
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