HOW TO MAKE THE BEST OF YOUR TIME
If you are taking a big group then split up to cover more ground. Smaller groups also make less noise. Record all interviews with witnesses and film as much of the expedition as you can. This will come in use not only as a record in itself but also as a tool to improve future trips.
You will be very lucky to get a glimpse of your target creature so gleaning information from locals and witnesses is the next best thing.
It is a good idea to prepare a list of questions when interviewing a witness. Be patient as English will probably not be their first language. You will have to work through an interpreter. In Sumatra, when speaking to the Kubu tribesmen of there encounters with orang-pendek and giant snakes we needed two interpreters. Our guide Sahar translated our questions into Indonesian and then these were translated by a second man (who spoke no English) into the language of the Kubu and visa versa.
Generally I have found native peoples to be very hospitable and honest. They are usually surprised at scientists from ‘the outside world’ being interested in their sightings. They ask for no payment and often do not consider what they have seen to be anything special but just ‘another kind of animal’. One Russian almasty witness was amazed that we were interested in such a ‘crazy topic’ as she put it.
The only real exception to this was in The Gambia were everyone seemed to be out to twist money from Europeans and would tell any kind of tall tail if they thought they could get their grubby hands on money.
Always keep a journal of your trip with entries every day. Such notes are invaluable when it comes to writing an account of your expedition. In the modern day you may even be able to do a daily computer blog with a laptop if you can get a signal.
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU GET HOME
If you have got lucky and managed to film a cryptid do not hoard the film and exchange it only for money. As noted before this is a scientific endeavour not a way of making cash. Share the film with fellow cryptozoologists and the scientific community. This is all about exchanging knowledge and advancing knowledge. If you hold out for cash people will be suspicious. If you have indeed filmed an unknown animal than your reward will be scientific fame.
If you have bone, skin, dung, scales or other organic matter that may come from a cryptid you will need to get it scientifically analysed. Approach reputable museums, universities or zoological organizations. If these cannot do the analysis themselves they may be able to furnish you with contacts who can. Most of the organic matter from CFZ expeditions are analysed by Copenhagen University were our friend Dr Lars Thomas works.
Whatever the outcome publish the findings. There is no shame in mistaking something mundane for something strange. Supposed orang-pendek hair the CFZ brought back from Sumatra on our first expedition there turned out to be from a golden cat. Possible almasty hair was in fact human. Such negatives do not mean your monster does not exist, just that you don’t have a part of it. It’s better to have made a genuine error whilst looking for a cryptid than to never have looked for it at all. One day someone will get lucky and come up with the goods. That someone might just be you!
On our latest trip to Sumatra we brought back possible orang-pendek hair. The DNA has been analysed by Lars and his team and he discovered it was similar to but not the same as orang-utan DNA. At the time of writing a further set of tests are being carried out. It looks as if the hair may belong to a new species of ape.
All ways record your findings and your trip in a write up. This can be as a book, a magazine article an on line account or as we at the CFZ do, all three. Recording your work for posterity is vital. You would not want the things your expedition discovered to be lost and forgotten would you. By recording them they will be here forever and be a useful resource to other cryptozoologists.
THE BEST WAY TO HUNT MONSTERS
Finally, the best way to have a chance to hunt real life monsters in the 21st century is to join the only full time, professional cryptozoological organization in the world, The Centre for Fortean Zoology. The CFZ organizes monster hunts all over the world. Any CFZ member can come along if they can pay their own way. The great thing is that you will not have to organize a thing! The CFZ do all the organization. Check out our website
www.cfz.org.uk
Even now monsters still stalk the world and great discoveries are waiting to be made. Adventure is just around the corner if you’re brave enough. Now it’s all up to you.