Today marks the 81st anniversary of the Surgeon’s Photo, arguably the greatest hoax of cryptozoology history. You know the one: the Loch Ness Monster floats placidly on the lake, her long neck extended from the water, serenely backlit. For decades, the image was regarded as the best evidence the creature existed. However, years later, the photographers/perpetrators came forward and admitted they crafted the creature out of a toy submarine and some wood, all in an effort to get back at the Daily Mail for an unflattering article about them. Biggest. Disappointment. Ever. (And an immature prank at that.)
In honor of this inauspicious occasion, the current Google Doodle features the Loch Ness Monster—and a trio of aliens controlling him from the inside of a steampunk-esque chamber, suggesting that Nessie isn’t really an animal at all, but an alien-hatched plot to drive human beings insane with elaborate hoaxes. An interesting theory to say the least…
I’ve been a fan of the Loch Ness Monster since grade school. My seven-year-old self wanted to believe (very badly) that this creature does indeed haunt the waters of Scotland. Perhaps she’s a plesiosaur, left over from the epoch of dinosaurs. She’d be in good company with the coelacanth, a fish that did indeed survive the ages, only to manifest in the twentieth century, bigger and better than ever. Or maybe Nessie is a long-necked seal, a modern beastie who is repeatedly accused of being a prehistoric monster. Even now, theories–new and old–abound. There certainly remains a huge number of people who genuinely believe that Loch Ness houses more than just beautiful waters, and no admission of a hoax will change their minds.
These days, Google urges users to utilize the Street View feature to find old Nessie in her natural environment. So far, no compelling sightings have manifested, but we’ll keep watch and let you know what we see.
So what do you think? Is the Loch Ness Monster really out there, hiding in the inky depths of Scotland? Or is this just a fun story we tell ourselves to keep the magic of the world alive? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
Happy haunting, and keep one eye on the water!
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons