Is this the truth behind the Loch Ness Monster?
The infamous mystery of Scotland's Loch Ness Monster has been investigated in a new study. Do we finally have answers about its existence?
Deep in the murky, peat-saturated waters of Loch Ness, Scotland's most enigmatic resident continues to evade detection or explanation, having teased the world with alleged sightings for over 90 years.
The Loch Ness Monster, affectionately known as Nessie, first made a splash in global media in 1933, in an article published in the Courier. The story detailed a sighting by Aldie Mackay, who supposedly witnessed a large 'beast' or 'whale-like creature' rolling in the loch's waters, while she and her husband were driving along the A82.
Over the years, many similar accounts have emerged, and records of an apparent monster in the Loch Ness region go as far back as the sixth century AD, documented in the Life of St. Columba by Adomnán, abbot of Iona Abbey. Research into the creature is still alive and well, with a new study examining one of the common hypotheses for what might explain sightings of the monster.
Could Nessie be a giant eel?
European eels (Anguilla anguilla) are one of many creatures known to inhabit the waters of Loch Ness. With their elongated bodies, winding movements and dark colouration, eels are consistent with many Nessie sightings.
In a study published in JMIRx Bio, researcher Floe Floxon, of the Folk Zoology Society in Pennsylvania, examined this theory in more detail, to determine whether eels could indeed explain the mystery.
Using catch data from Loch Ness and other freshwater bodies in Europe where these eels are found, the research estimated the probability of observing abnormally large eels in the loch. An eel measuring 6 metres long, for example, could certainly be mistaken for something larger, especially when sighted briefly amongst choppy waves.
However, Floxon's findings cast doubt on the eel theory, concluding that statistical considerations do not support the existence of eels this large.
According to the results, the probability of a 1-metre-long eel was approximately 1 in 50,000, which Floxon says may account for sightings of smaller unknown animals in the loch. But the probability of a 6-metre-long eel was next to zero, debunking the theory that eels could be responsible for Nessie sightings.
Applying science to folklore
In ruling out a common theory, the study contributes to a better understanding of the Loch Ness Monster phenomenon. It also, as Floxon states, demonstrates the capacity of zoological research to lend a scientific hand to subjects often mired in myth and legend.
"In this new work, a much-needed level of scientific rigour and data are brought to a topic that is otherwise as slippery as an eel," said Floxon. "Contrary to popular conception, the intersection between folklore and zoology is amenable to scientific analysis and has the potential to provide valuable insights into anthrozoological phenomena."
As for the true explanation behind Nessie's story, it seems questions remain for the time being, allowing the enduring mystery of the Scottish Highlands to go on.