Latest news with #LochNessMonster
STV News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- STV News
Loch Ness monster hunters make 'significant step' in solving Scots mystery
Hundreds of monster hunters geared up to take part in an annual search for the elusive Loch Ness Monster. The Loch Ness Centre hosted a search which saw enthusiasts scouring the 23-mile-long loch for unusual activity from May 22 to 25. For the first time, Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), controlled by Little Loch Broom Marine Life, were used throughout The Quest Weekend in an attempt to capture the first underwater image of the famous beast. Baited camera traps fitted with GoPro cameras and lights were also placed in strategic locations to capture any signs of wildlife. The Loch Ness Centre The camera traps captured footage of pike and salmon. Although the search for the historic Scots monster was unsuccessful, organisers said the camera traps captured 'incredible footage' of pike and salmon believed to be the first time they have been seen on camera in the loch. Expert hunters believe the footage could be 'evidence of food to sustain a giant monster and a significant step' in solving the mystery. Organisers also said ROVs unearthed a 'remarkable' relic from one of Loch Ness's most renowned monster hunters, Dr Robert Rines. Cabling from Dr Rines' original 1970s strobe light equipment, used in his groundbreaking underwater expeditions to capture images of Nessie, was found resting deep in the loch's sediment The Loch Ness Centre Loch Ness Centre Quest Weekend 2025. Alongside the cabling, the ROV also uncovered the ruins of the old Temple Pier, from where historic British racer John Cobb set off in his attempt to break the world water speed record, an endeavour that cost him his life. Other volunteers explored the depths of Loch Ness with Deepscan captain Alistair Matheson, the skipper for the Loch Ness Project. Monster hunters joined Alistair and Alan McKenna for an extended excursion, utilising their brand-new hydrophone to listen for mysterious sounds echoing from the deep within Loch Ness. Monster hunters who were unable to attend the search still got involved in the hunt for the truth through the Visit Inverness Loch Ness website. Several cameras were set up across the loch for people around the globe to watch out for the loch's most famous inhabitant, as well as other local wildlife, 365 days a year. Nagina Ishaq, general manager of The Loch Ness Centre, said the excitement and buzz at the event proved the Loch Ness mystery is very much alive. 'We all want the same thing, to discover the secrets that lie beneath the loch, and we've been delighted to welcome so many people into The Loch Ness Centre to enjoy the exhibition and Deepscan boat trips across the weekend,' they said. 'The footage we have captured using the ROVs has just made us more determined than ever to continue our search for the truth.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Record
6 days ago
- General
- Daily Record
What should a person do if they find Loch Ness Monster?
The Nessie Contingency Plan, drawn up by NatureScot, is a real guide for what to do if the monster ever appears For nearly a century, people have been scouring the dark waters of Loch Ness near Inverness in search of the legendary monster. Strange humps have been spotted gliding across the surface, and eerie sounds have echoed from the depths below, yet Nessie herself has never been definitively found. But what if, against all odds, the Loch Ness Monster actually turned up? As it turns out, authorities in Scotland are already prepared. A set of official guidelines, known as the Nessie Contingency Plan, was quietly drafted years ago by the government's nature agency, NatureScot. It sounds like something straight out of The X Files, but the document is real, and it outlines exactly what would happen if Nessie were to surface. A NatureScot spokesperson told the BBC: 'The Nessie Contingency Plan was produced back in 2001, at a time when there was a lot of Nessie-hunting activity on the loch. 'We were regularly being asked by the media and others what we would do if or when she, or he, was found. 'The code of practice, which was partly serious and partly for a bit of fun, was drawn up to offer protection not just to the elusive monster, but to any new species found in the loch.' Under the plan, any new creature discovered in the loch would be subject to scientific investigation, including a DNA sample, before being safely released back into the water. Crucially, the creature would also receive full legal protection, just like native Scottish species such as golden eagles and wildcats. That means if Nessie were real, it would be illegal to harm, kill or even capture her. Concerns for Nessie's safety aren't new. Back in 1938, a senior police officer wrote to the Scottish Office warning about a group of men intent on hunting the creature 'dead or alive'. The party, he said, was allegedly having a special harpoon gun made and planned to descend on the loch with 20 'experienced men'. The legend of the Loch Ness Monster stretches all the way back to the Middle Ages. According to ancient lore, it was Irish monk St Columba who first encountered a mysterious beast in the River Ness, which flows out from the loch. But the modern version of the myth only really began in the spring of 1933, when Aldie Mackay, manageress of a local hotel, reported seeing a whale-like creature thrashing through the water. The Inverness Courier picked up the story and its editor, Evan Barron, cemented Nessie's name in pop culture by describing the creature as a 'monster'. Since then, sightings have trickled in with remarkable consistency. The Official Loch Ness Monster Sightings Register has logged 1,161 reports since launching in 1996. There were three sightings last year, and already one for 2025, a pair of humps said to be gliding across the loch. Over the decades, eyewitnesses have described everything from a creature with crocodile-like skin to fast-moving shapes that defy explanation. Many have tried to solve the riddle. The Loch Ness Investigation Bureau conducted multiple searches throughout the 1960s and 70s. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Then in the late 1980s, Operation Deepscan brought more than 20 boats equipped with sonar technology to sweep the loch in a bid to detect large underwater animals. And then there's Steve Feltham, arguably the most committed monster hunter of them all. He gave up his job, sold his house in Dorset and moved to the shores of Loch Ness in 1991 to dedicate his life to cracking the mystery. Some researchers believe Nessie might not be a monster at all. In 2019, a team of scientists from New Zealand analysed environmental DNA from water samples across the loch. Their conclusion? There was no evidence of giant reptiles or prehistoric creatures like plesiosaurs. Instead, they suggested the sightings could be explained by something much less mythical: giant eels.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
What happens if someone finds the Loch Ness Monster?
People have been looking for Nessie for almost 100 years. Humps have been seen moving across Loch Ness, and strange sounds heard from beneath the surface - but no actual monster. A four-day "quest" - the latest in a long series of efforts to unravel the mystery - has been held this week. But what would happen if the Loch Ness Monster was found - besides, of course, creating a global sensation? The Nessie Contingency Plan sounds like it should be in an episode of TV sci-fi drama The X Files. But it is a set of guidelines written by Scotland's nature agency, NatureScot. A spokesperson told us: "The Nessie Contingency Plan was produced back in 2001, at a time when there was a lot of Nessie-hunting activity on the loch. "We were regularly being asked by the media and others what we would do if or when she, or he, was found. "The code of practice, which was partly serious and partly for a bit of fun, was drawn up to offer protection not just to the elusive monster, but to any new species found in the loch." The plan stipulates that a DNA sample should be taken from any new creature, and then it should be released back into the loch. The animal would also be afforded the same legal protection as Scotland's other native wildlife, such as wildcats and golden eagles. It means it would be illegal to kill, injure or capture the monster. The authorities have raised concerns for Nessie in the past. In 1938 a senior police officer warned the Scottish Office of a planned hunting expedition "determined to catch the monster dead or alive". The party claimed they were having a special harpoon gun made and were headed for the loch with 20 "experienced men". The legend of a monster dates back to the Middle Ages when Irish monk St Columba is said to have encountered a creature in the Ness, a river that flows from Loch Ness. The modern myth of Nessie began centuries later. In April 1933, hotel manageress Aldie Mackay told of seeing a whale-like creature and the loch's water "cascading and churning". The Inverness Courier newspaper reported the sighting and the editor at the time, Evan Barron, suggested the beast be described as a "monster". Sightings continue to be made in recent times, with the Official Loch Ness Monster Sightings Register having received 1,161 reports since its launch in 1996. There were three last year and one report for 2025 so far, according to the register. This year's sighting described two humps moving across the loch. Over the years, the reports have included objects moving fast across the loch, and a creature with crocodile-like skin. There's a long list of people and attempts to find Nessie, or disprove existence of a monster. The Loch Ness Investigation Bureau carried out searches in the 1960s and 70s. In the late 1980s, Operation Deepscan saw more than 20 boats make a sonar sweep of the loch. Then there's Steve Feltham who has dedicated his life to solving the mystery of the Loch Ness Monster. He gave up his job and sold his home in Dorset to move to Dores on the shores of the loch in 1991. In 2019, a team of scientists who had visited the loch said giant eels could be behind sightings. The researchers from New Zealand catalogued all living species in the loch from DNA extracted from water samples. Following analysis, they ruled out the presence of large animals said to be behind reports of a monster - including a prehistoric plesiosaur or a wandering Greenland shark. Camera set up to catch Loch Ness Monster discovered Concerns over Loch Ness' falling water levels Two years ago, a search billed as the biggest Nessie hunt in more than 50 years saw volunteers help record natural - and any unusual - sights from vantage points on land. During The Quest, observers on a boat using acoustic equipment reported four unidentified "gloops" but then realised their recording device wasn't plugged in. The event, which involved searches on the loch and from shore, is being held for a third year. It started on Thursday and ends on Sunday. For those contingency planners at NatureScot the worry is something unpleasant might be uncovered in Loch Ness. "Sadly, when we find a new species in a loch it is often an invasive species which has been introduced that is expensive and challenging to deal with," said the spokesperson. "We ask people to take care not spread these non-native animals and plants into our waterways." Non-native freshwater species found in Scotland include American mink and North American signal crayfish. Eating native species and damaging habitats are among the risks they pose. The spokesperson added: "While the evidence for the existence of the Loch Ness Monster is questionable, the threat posed by climate change and biodiversity loss to all the plants and animals that live in our lochs is all too real." NatureScot
BBC News
25-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
What happens if someone finds the Loch Ness Monster?
People have been looking for Nessie for almost 100 have been seen moving across Loch Ness, and strange sounds heard from beneath the surface - but no actual monster.A four-day "quest" - the latest in a long series of efforts to unravel the mystery - has been held this what would happen if the Loch Ness Monster was found - besides, of course, creating a global sensation? The official plan The Nessie Contingency Plan sounds like it should be in an episode of TV sci-fi drama The X it is a set of guidelines written by Scotland's nature agency, NatureScot.A spokesperson told us: "The Nessie Contingency Plan was produced back in 2001, at a time when there was a lot of Nessie-hunting activity on the loch."We were regularly being asked by the media and others what we would do if or when she, or he, was found."The code of practice, which was partly serious and partly for a bit of fun, was drawn up to offer protection not just to the elusive monster, but to any new species found in the loch."The plan stipulates that a DNA sample should be taken from any new creature, and then it should be released back into the animal would also be afforded the same legal protection as Scotland's other native wildlife, such as wildcats and golden means it would be illegal to kill, injure or capture the monster. The authorities have raised concerns for Nessie in the 1938 a senior police officer warned the Scottish Office of a planned hunting expedition "determined to catch the monster dead or alive".The party claimed they were having a special harpoon gun made and were headed for the loch with 20 "experienced men". How many sightings of a 'monster'? The legend of a monster dates back to the Middle Ages when Irish monk St Columba is said to have encountered a creature in the Ness, a river that flows from Loch modern myth of Nessie began centuries April 1933, hotel manageress Aldie Mackay told of seeing a whale-like creature and the loch's water "cascading and churning".The Inverness Courier newspaper reported the sighting and the editor at the time, Evan Barron, suggested the beast be described as a "monster".Sightings continue to be made in recent times, with the Official Loch Ness Monster Sightings Register having received 1,161 reports since its launch in were three last year and one report for 2025 so far, according to the year's sighting described two humps moving across the the years, the reports have included objects moving fast across the loch, and a creature with crocodile-like skin. Who's looking for Nessie? There's a long list of people and attempts to find Nessie, or disprove existence of a Loch Ness Investigation Bureau carried out searches in the 1960s and the late 1980s, Operation Deepscan saw more than 20 boats make a sonar sweep of the there's Steve Feltham who has dedicated his life to solving the mystery of the Loch Ness gave up his job and sold his home in Dorset to move to Dores on the shores of the loch in 2019, a team of scientists who had visited the loch said giant eels could be behind researchers from New Zealand catalogued all living species in the loch from DNA extracted from water analysis, they ruled out the presence of large animals said to be behind reports of a monster - including a prehistoric plesiosaur or a wandering Greenland shark. Two years ago, a search billed as the biggest Nessie hunt in more than 50 years saw volunteers help record natural - and any unusual - sights from vantage points on The Quest, observers on a boat using acoustic equipment reported four unidentified "gloops" but then realised their recording device wasn't plugged event, which involved searches on the loch and from shore, is being held for a third year. It started on Thursday and ends on Sunday. Would finding something be good news? For those contingency planners at NatureScot the worry is something unpleasant might be uncovered in Loch Ness."Sadly, when we find a new species in a loch it is often an invasive species which has been introduced that is expensive and challenging to deal with," said the spokesperson."We ask people to take care not spread these non-native animals and plants into our waterways."Non-native freshwater species found in Scotland include American mink and North American signal native species and damaging habitats are among the risks they spokesperson added: "While the evidence for the existence of the Loch Ness Monster is questionable, the threat posed by climate change and biodiversity loss to all the plants and animals that live in our lochs is all too real."
Axios
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Richmond's 50-year theme park battle
Fifty years ago this month, the region's two major theme parks opened 70 miles and 13 days apart, the Times-Dispatch's Eric Kolenich reports. Why it matters: A half a century later, Kings Dominion and Busch Gardens continue to battle for Virginia thrill-seekers' attention — and money. State of play: The parks that opened in May 1975 were very different than the ones we know today, Kolenich reports. Kings Dominion, which was built atop a Hanover County cornfield, hoped to entice families with its three roller coasters and drive-thru zoo. Busch Gardens, meanwhile, rose adjacent to then-owner Anheuser-Busch's brewery,aiming to offer a European-inspired experience beyond thrill-seeking. Its opening featured replica European villages, a single rollercoaster and the adjacent brewery. KD's strategy worked. It drew 52,000 visitors on opening day and turned away nearly as many. Meanwhile, a paltry 6,000 people showed up for BG's opening. KD would be the industry leader ... for about three years. What happened: Busch Gardens took its cue from KD and shifted its focus to families and rides, starting with the addition of its mega-coaster, the Loch Ness Monster, the world's first (and still only remaining) interlocking loop steel coaster. KD hit back the next year with the Lost World — a 15-story synthetic mountain with three rides. For the next four decades, the two parks would keep adding attractions, refining their offerings and expanding their schedules — all in an effort to entice more Virginians through the gates. What they're saying: "It's always been a prize fight," Dennis Speigel, KD ' s first general manager, told the RTD. "They're going after the same guy going down 95 and up 64." The latest: Today, as the battle still rages, Busch Gardens boasts over 50 rides and attractions, including 10 roller coasters, according to Roller Coaster DataBase — and a water park. Never to be outdone, Kings Dominion now has around 60 rides and 13 coasters — and a water park. For most locals, though, which theme park they prefer comes down to personal preference, price and, often, nostalgia. What's next: In celebration of its 50th anniversary, KD opened this season with Rapterra, its newest coaster, and the world's tallest and longest launched wing roller coaster. Busch Gardens, meanwhile, this weekend will unveil The Big Bad Wolf: The Wolf's Revenge, an all-new version of its hit 1984 inverted roller coaster that sends riders spiraling through a Bavarian village as wolves howl. And starting Saturday, both parks, including their water parks, will be open daily through summer.
