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THATCHER: DOLPHINS COULD HUNT LOCH NESS MONSTER
Mirror ^ | 16 January 2006 | Mark Smith

Posted on 02/28/2006 12:58:07 PM PST by presidio9

A NESSIE hunt using a team of dolphins was planned by the Tory government, according to declassified secret documents.

Within days of the 1979 election, officials in Margaret Thatcher's regime proposed importing the mammals from America and fitting them with hi-tech equipment to scour Loch Ness.

Despite opposition from animal rights groups, it was argued that finding the monster would benefit local tourism.

A letter from Environment Department civil servant David Waymouth to Stewart Walker at the Scottish Home and Health Department, showed the Government wanted a licence to initiate the plan.

It stated: "This department is presently considering the issue of a licence to import two bottle-nosed dolphins from America for the purpose of exploring Loch Ness.

"Inquiries have been made with the mammal experts on the Scientific Authority for Animals and their advice is that there are no conservation or welfare reasons for refusing a licence.

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"Clearly, however, there are other factors, mainly political, that you might wish to consider before the licence is issued."

The National Archive of Scotland contains no record of a response to the letter, which was released under the Freedom of Information Act.

However, Adrian Shine, a naturalist who has been investigating the Loch Ness mystery for several decades, said he believed the dolphin plan was the brainchild of veteran monster hunter Dr Robert Rines.

Dr Rines was the founder of the American-based Academy of Applied Science who took a now-famous underwater photograph in 1972, which appeared to show a large flipper in the loch.

The Academy of Applied Science in New Hampshire confirmed that dolphins were being trained with mini cameras and strobe lights that would have been activated if they encountered any large objects.

Last week, it was revealed that civil servants made plans to give Nessie legal protection from poachers and bounty hunters in the early 80s.

The plan was instigated when the Swedish government asked for help to preserve their equivalent, the Storsjo monster.

UK officials then realised there was nothing to stop a trophy hunter from tracking down the beast and killing her.

It was eventually decided that Nessie should be protected as part of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, rather than specific legislation.

Under the provisions of the Act it is illegal to snare, shoot or blow up the monster.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Miscellaneous; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: abominablesnowman; bumbles; coelacanth; cryptozoology; dolphins; frickinlaserbeams; hermey; horseeel; illtemperedseabass; liger; lochness; maggie; napoleandynamite; nessie; petdetectives; pliosaur; saola; thatcher; workingdogs
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To: Uncle Jaque

Champy's in Vermont.


41 posted on 02/28/2006 1:43:13 PM PST by Hoodlum91 (pcottraux says I'm special!)
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To: Bon mots
"Mabye Loch Ness Monsters like the taste of dolphin..."

I've heard they demand tuna-free dolphin.

42 posted on 02/28/2006 1:55:10 PM PST by mass55th (Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway~~John Wayne)
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To: presidio9
Why? If there IS a "Nessie" who cares honestly? The damn thing has lived this long and people with too much friggin' free time won't leave it alone.

They'll end up killing it just to prove it was there then feel bad about it. If it's there leave it the hell alone.

43 posted on 02/28/2006 2:01:07 PM PST by infidel29 ("We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid." --Benjamin Franklin)
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To: pcottraux

I don't believe in aliens, but I could be convinced about Ness and Bigfoot and the Abominable Snowman. :)


44 posted on 02/28/2006 2:06:45 PM PST by Politicalmom (Must I use a sarcasm tag?)
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To: presidio9

Did they pay him the "threefitty?" (Chef's parents from South Park)


45 posted on 02/28/2006 2:09:02 PM PST by Luke21
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To: Politicalmom

I actually agree with you 100%. You don't meet many people that don't believe in aliens. Not that I don't believe that there's any life out there, but I don't believe intelligent life has found it's way from space to Earth.


46 posted on 02/28/2006 2:12:37 PM PST by pcottraux (It's pronounced "P. Coe-troe.")
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To: Politicalmom

The existence of the Abominable Snowman is beyond dispute. Here's a picture taken by Yukon Cornelius.

47 posted on 02/28/2006 2:13:03 PM PST by presidio9 ("Bird Flu" is the new Y2K Virus -Only without the inconvenient deadline.)
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To: presidio9

bump


48 posted on 02/28/2006 2:16:26 PM PST by lesser_satan
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To: presidio9

(I happen to know that he is really a Bumble. Did you know Bumbles bounce?)


49 posted on 02/28/2006 2:31:05 PM PST by Politicalmom (Must I use a sarcasm tag?)
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To: pcottraux

There is a really good documentary on the search for Nessie. I am sure you have seen it. I can't find the DVD with the name on it.....


50 posted on 02/28/2006 2:32:26 PM PST by Politicalmom (Must I use a sarcasm tag?)
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To: dead

He married Big Butt.


51 posted on 02/28/2006 2:39:44 PM PST by sgtbono2002
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To: Paulus; wireman

"It's not Snowflake! It's not Snowflake!"


52 posted on 02/28/2006 2:49:28 PM PST by Stonewall Jackson ("I see storms on the horizon")
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To: presidio9
But did she have a plan for Bigfoot? Eh? EH?
53 posted on 02/28/2006 2:50:14 PM PST by Caipirabob (Communists... Socialists... Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
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To: presidio9

The times change, but The New York Slimes just stays the same...

54 posted on 02/28/2006 2:56:34 PM PST by Bender2 (Redid my FR Homepage just for ya'll... Now, Vote Republican and vote often)
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To: presidio9

Well I was referring to the picture of some dinosaur looking thing with a long neck ... the one that's always shown when the MSM talks about Nessie ...


55 posted on 02/28/2006 3:41:48 PM PST by SkyDancer ("Talent Without Ambition is Sad, Ambition Without Talent Is Worse")
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To: pcottraux

Have you ever went to Urban Legends???


56 posted on 02/28/2006 3:42:49 PM PST by SkyDancer ("Talent Without Ambition is Sad, Ambition Without Talent Is Worse")
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To: SkyDancer

You mean snopes.com? Yes, I go there all the time.

I am actually a very skeptical person when it comes to a lot of things. But you can't discount something entirely because one bit of evidence turned out to be a hoax or optical illusion.


57 posted on 02/28/2006 3:54:04 PM PST by pcottraux (It's pronounced "P. Coe-troe.")
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To: pcottraux

I'm neither too - I always check out things that seem to me "somewhat odd" ...I used to debunk a lot of things at school, example. There was this email going around as to how sunscreen would blind you but you should use it anyway since it's better to be blind than have skin cancer.You'd be amazed how many people bought into that ...


58 posted on 02/28/2006 4:12:57 PM PST by SkyDancer ("Talent Without Ambition is Sad, Ambition Without Talent Is Worse")
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To: windcliff

ping


59 posted on 02/28/2006 4:14:00 PM PST by stylecouncilor
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To: Godebert

It's not like they breathe through gills. They breathe through a blowhole when they surface.

But their skin, their blood, and their body chemistry are all adapted to constant contact with salt water. I find it difficult (but not impossible, if there's someone around with actual expertise) to believe that none of that would be thrown off in a fresh-water environment.


60 posted on 02/28/2006 4:18:42 PM PST by ReignOfError
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