Richard Freeman (cryptozoologist)
English cryptozoologist and author
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Richard Freeman (born 1970) is a cryptozoologist, author, zoological journalist, and WebTV Presenter. He is also the zoological director of the Centre for Fortean Zoology (CFZ),[1][2] and co-edits both the journal, Animals & Men[2] and several editions of the annual CFZ Yearbook.[citation needed] Freeman has written, co-written, or edited a number of books, and has contributed widely to both Fortean and zoological magazines, as well as other newspapers and periodicals, including Fortean Times and Paranormal Magazine.[citation needed]
Journalist
Lecturer
Cryptozoologist
Richard Freeman | |
|---|---|
Richard Freeman, photographed in November 2006 | |
| Born | 1970 (age 55–56) |
| Occupations | Author Journalist Lecturer Cryptozoologist |
| Organization | Centre for Fortean Zoology |
He has also lectured across the UK at events such as the Fortean Times Unconvention, the Weird Weekend, Microcon[3] and at museums and universities such as the Natural History Museum, the Grant Museum of Zoology, Queen Mary, University of London and the Last Tuesday Society.[citation needed]
Richard claims an early obsession with the classic science fiction series Doctor Who (with Jon Pertwee) had sparked an interest in all things weird.[2][4] He studied zoology at Leeds University.[5] After school, he became a zoo keeper at Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire and became head keeper of reptiles, working with more than 400 exotic species from ants to elephants (but with a special interest in crocodilians).[citation needed] After leaving the zoo, he worked in an exotic pet shop, a reptile rescue centre, and as a gravedigger.[citation needed]
Whilst on holiday he learned of the CFZ and bought a copy of the Centre's journal, Animals & Men, which left him impressed enough to subscribe and begin contributing.[5] He eventually became the CFZ's Yorkshire representative, then moved to Devon to become a full-time member of the Centre.[citation needed] He is now the zoological director[1] and co-editor of Animals & Men.[citation needed]
Cryptozoological expeditions
- Thailand in 2000 for a species of a giant crested snake known as the naga.[2][6]
- Sumatra, Indonesia in 2003 and 2004 for an upright walking non-human ape called orang-pendek.[2]
- Mongolia in 2005 for the Mongolian death worm.[7][2]
- The Gambia in 2006 for a dragon-like aquatic cryptid, the Ninki Nanka.[8]
- Guyana in 2007 for the giant anaconda, the di-di (a yeti-like hominid), the water tiger (a spotted semi-aquatic, flesh eating mammal), and the bushmen, an unrecorded race of three-foot pygmies with red faces. He also heard of what may be a new species of tiny caiman with a red strip running along its back.
- Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia in 2008 for the almasty, a relic hominid.
- Sumatra again in 2009 for the orang-pendek.
- India in 2010 for the Mande-Barung or Indian yeti.
- Sumatra again in 2011 and 2013 for the orang-pendek.
- Tasmania in 2013, 2016, and 2017 for the thylacine or Tasmanian Wolf[2]
- Tajikistan in 2018 for the gul, a creature akin to the Russian almasty. And the Caspian tiger.
- Sumatra in 2022 for the orang-pendek.
- Tajikistan in 2023 for the gul and the Caspian tiger.
- Tajikistan in 2024 for the gul and the Caspian tiger.
- Bhitarkanika national park, India in 2025 for 'Kalia' a giant saltwater crocodile.
Creatures hunted
- The Monster of Martin Mere, an 8-foot, swan-eating catfish in Lancashire.[9]
- The Loch Ness Monster
- The Monster of Loch Morar
- The Monster of Windermere
Books
- Weird Devon (Bossiney, Padstow, 1999) with Jonathan Downes and Graham Inglis
- Dragons: More Than a Myth? (CFZ Press, Bideford, 2005)
- Explore Dragons (Heart of Albion Press, Loughborough, 2006)
- The Great Yokai Encyclopedia; an A to Z of Japanese Monsters (CFZ Press, Bideford, 2010)
- Orang-pendek: Sumatra's Forgotten Ape (CFZ Press, Bideford, 2011) ISBN 978-1905723829
- Green Unpleasant Land; 18 stories of British Horror (CFZ Press, Bideford, 2012) ISBN 978-1905723850
- Hyakumonogatari: Tales of Japanese Horror (CFZ Press, Bideford, 2012)
- Adventures in Cryptozology: Hunting for Yetis Mongolian Deathworms and Other Not-So-Mythical Monsters (Mango Publishing, Florida 2019) ISBN 978-1642500165
- In Search of Real Monsters: Adventures in Cryptozology Volume Two (Mango Publishing, Florida 2022 )
- " Creatures That Eat People"(Mango Publishing, Florida 2024 )
- " 'The Highest Strangeness'" (CFZ Press 2024)
Appearances in media
Penn & Teller: Bullshit! – Season 4 Episode 1: Cryptozoology[10]