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Monster Hunters Spot Giant Fish
Sunday 28 July 2002
The BBC

Wels catfish have been known to reach 16 ft in length.
Image Credit: The BBC.

"I can't say for sure that it was a Wels catfish. But if a pike had attacked the swans there would have been wounds. This thing seems to come up underneath and drag its prey down under the water."

W. LANCASHIRE, U.K. -- BBC
A team of paranormal investigators from Exeter believe they may have identified a giant creature being held responsible for attacks on swans in Lancashire.

Sightings of the creature, dubbed the Monster of Martin Mere, were reported earlier this year by visitors to the bird reserve at Burscough, in West Lancashire.

Now a four-man team from the Exeter-based Centre for Fortean Zoology say they have seen a "very big fish" during a 24-hour watch at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust beauty spot near Ormskirk.

Organisation members, who claim to have pursued vampires in Mexico, dragons in Thailand and skunk apes in Florida, have launched a four-day operation in an attempt to crack the mystery of the fish.

They are spending four days at Martin Mere using infrared cameras, military-style night lights and "fish finder" sonar equipment in a bid to find out more about the mystery beast.

Director Jonathan Downes, who said he was somewhat sceptical when he first heard reports of the fish, believes the monster may be a Wels catfish.
(More: BBC Online News Source)
2002 © The British Broadcasting Corporation.

Dan