The #1 source for news about monkeys and apes

[Joe Garden <joegarden AT yahoo.com>]

http://www.wate.com/Global/story.asp?S=1492976

Is a Skunk Ape Loose in Campbell County? October 22, 2003

By VINCE LENNON 6 News Reporter

CAMPBELL COUNTY (WATE) -- A new theory emerged Wednesday as a
crypto-zoologist weighed in on sightings of a possible primate in Campbell
County.

A Crypto-zoologist, someone who studies uncataloged animals such as skunk
apes, accompanied a 6 News crew in Campbell County Wednesday.

Myakka "skunk apes" have been spotted in the southeastern United States
since the 1940's.

Local crypto-zoologist Chris Dotson contacted 6 News after seeing the
stories on Campbell County primate sightings. "The animal people reported
seeing is not a pet."

Dotson took the skunk ape photographs Wednesday to people who've claimed
to have seen the primate in the LaFollette area. Dotson's convinced that
what people are seeing is a skunk ape.

"We need to capture this thing the best we can," Dotson said. "People need
to stay away from it, allow experts to come in who have some knowledge of
large primates like this and trap this animal."

Monkey owner Jerome Love answered a summons at the Campbell County
Sheriff's Department with his Macaque monkey "Mugway." Love wanted to
prove it's not his animal that's loose. "If it's a monkey that's killing
these cats, it's not this one and I'm tired of it."

6 News is hearing more accounts from Campbell County residents who say
they've seen the creature. Some date back 35 years. However, many people
are hesitant to talk, for fear of being labeled as crazy.

In all, six cats and one dog have been killed in the last three days. And
there have been a number of sightings within the last 48 hours. The
warning still stands though for people not to try approaching the animal,
but to report it to local authorities.

Crypto-zoologists believe there could be hundreds of skunk apes across the
Southeast. 


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