The World Briefly

August 29, 2023

The Hunt Begins

Scotland

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Volunteer hunters from all over the world arrived in Scotland this week on a mission to locate the Loch Ness Monster, in what is thought to be the biggest hunt for the legendary creature in five decades, the Washington Post reported.

The new event has hunters and adventurers using a variety of new tech to search for the mythical monster in the picturesque Loch Ness (lake) in the Scottish Highlands. The big hunt includes the deployment of thermal-imagining drones and a 60-foot hydrophone to detect sound from deep beneath the lake’s dark waters.

Independent research group Loch Ness Exploration, which organized the event, explained that the search is part of an effort to evoke both scientific inquiry and nostalgia, as well as prevent the waning of interest in the Loch Ness legend, NBC News wrote.

Legends surrounding the monster – also known as Nessie – began in the sixth century CE, but worldwide interest in the creature began after a reported sighting in 1933.

Many participants have provided various ideas about what they might do if they find Nessie, such as take selfies with the creature or call the police. While some volunteers doubt the monster’s existence, they described the hunt as a “once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Scientists and skeptics maintain that there is no concrete evidence that such a creature exists, but this hasn’t stopped some netizens from demanding the hunt to stop over concerns about Nessie’s well-being.

Meanwhile, NatureScot, the conservation authority in Scotland, has formulated a plan called the “Nessie Contingency Plan” to safeguard the Loch Ness monster,

Although initially created in 2001 for “a bit of fun,” the plan extends protection to any new species discovered in Loch Ness.

This story originally appeared in the August 29, 2023 newsletter, Mopping Up.