CENTRE FOR FORTEAN ZOOLOGY

'Centre for Fortean Zoology' {'CFZ'} is the only professional, scientific and full-time organisation in the world dedicated to Fortean-Zoology; a portmanteau discipline which includes cryptozoology -- the study of unknown animals. Since its humble beginnings, the CFZ is now a truly global entity with members all over the world. It is a non-profit making organisation registered with the British Government, and its Hon. Life President is renowned British Explorer John Blashford-Snell.

'The Permanent Directorate of the Centre for Fortean Zoology'

'Hon. Life President:'Colonel John Blashford-Snell

'Director:' Jonathan Downes

'Deputy Director:' Graham Inglis

'Zoological Director:'Richard Freeman

'Assistant Director/Resident Artist:'Mark North

'Administrative Director:'Corinna James

'Ecologist:' Oll Lewis

'Fundraiser:' Suzi Marsh

'Administrative Assistant:' John Fuller

'Tour Manager and PA to Director:' Nigel Wright

'Trainee:' David Phillips

Since 1992, when founded by British author and cryptozoologist Jonathan Downes, the CFZ has carried out an unparalleled programme of research and investigation all over the world. In 2005, Downes inherited his family home in rural North Devon, and the organisation relocated there. They are in the process of building a visitor's centre complete with a museum, laboratory and library.
The publishing arm of the CFZ is a company called CFZ Press which, they claim, is the largest single publisher of books on cryptozoology in the world. Since 2000, the CFZ has promoted an annual conference called The Weird Weekend. In 2006, after six years in Exeter, the conference moved to rural North Devon as well. In 2006 the CFZ, in collaboration with media consultant John Gledson, announced plans for a web-based TV station called CFZtv. Current plans for the station are in their infancy, but a low-key CFZtv website with a number of film shorts documenting CFZ investigations was launched in November 2006. One such film is the 38 minute `Eel or No Eel`, a documentary about the CFZ's 2006 exploratory trip to the English Lake District in search of giant eels. The film includes a very funny guest appearance by British journalist and author Jon Ronson.

Contents

Fortean Zoology; a portmanteau discipline

Mystery Animals; a three tier classification system

1. Cryptids

2. Pseudo-cryptids

3. Zooform phenomena

Foreign Expeditions

UK Based Investigations

Publications

Education

External links

Fortean Zoology; a portmanteau discipline

The primary focus of the CFZ involves unknown animals, but the CFZ also examines unusual and aberrant animal behavior, animal mutilations (on which subject they have worked closely with several British police forces), animal colour variants, teratology, animal folklore and such classic fortean staples as creature falls (fafrotskies), and vampire/werewolf reports.

Mystery Animals; a three tier classification system

The CFZ studies the various aspects of cryptozoolgy and allied disciplines, and have introduced a new three tier concept to aid classification and analysis of unknown animals.

1. Cryptids

Cryptozoology is the study of hidden or unknown animals belonging to species wholly or partly unknown to science, often collectively called 'cryptids'.

2. Pseudo-cryptids

Many researchers are interested in a related category of mystery animals often dubbed 'pseudo-cryptids', which are not strictly part of cryptozoology. This is one reason why Downes formulated the portmanteau discipline of fortean zoology.
These creatures are animals which are out-of-place, i.e., known species which by accident and/or artificial introduction living where would not normally expect to find them, one good example being alien big cats said to live in British moorlands.
However, not all out-of-place animals occur because of human intervention. Some are the result of accidental migration due to inclement weather or unusual marine currents. They are often known animal species that seem to be dramatically increasing their geographical range.
Other `pseudo-cryptids` include outsized, or oddly coloured individual or groups of animals of a known species. A good example of a pseudo-cryptid would be the golden frogs of the United Kingdom which are the subject of a current CFZ research projects.

3. Zooform phenomena

The third cryptozoological category consists of zooform phenomena.
These are not animals at all, but entities or apparitions which adopt or seem to have
(quasi)animal form. This is where we (at least to some extent) enter science fiction territory. In many ways, these elusive and contentious entities have plagued cryptozoology since its inception, and tend to be dismissed by mainstream science as thoroughly unworthy of consideration. Zooform phenomena seem to be a strange blend of paranormal manifestation and mythology.
However, Jonathan Downes who first coined the term in 1990, maintains that many zooform phenomena result from complex psychosocial and sociological phenomena, and suggests that to classify all such phenomena as "paranormal" in origin is counterproductive. A good example of a zooform phenomenon would be the Owlman of Mawnan.

Foreign Expeditions

CFZ members have carried out expeditions to:

★ Sumatra (2003 and 2004)

★ Mongolia (2005)

★ Puerto Rico (1998 and 2004)

★ Mexico (1998)

★ Thailand (2000)

★ Florida (1998)

★ Nevada (1999 and 2003)

★ Texas (2003 and 2004)

★ Illinois (2004)

★ The Gambia (2006)

UK Based Investigations

★ Martin Mere (2002)

★ Cannock (2003)

★ Bolam Lake (2004)

★ Loch Morar (2005)

★ Lake District (2006)

★ Llangorse Lake (2006)

Publications

The CFZ has an impressive range of publications to their credit, including nine issues of the annual CFZ Yearbook and (to date) thirty-nine issues of their journal ''Animals & Men''. The CFZ is committed to publishing books on cryptozoology and related disciplines that would otherwise remain unpublished by more commercially orientated publishers.

Education

The CFZ has a commitment to education, and works closely with schools and adult education authorities. It provides an online educational resource, as well as teaching sessions in schools, colleges and the like.

External links

★ CFZ website

★ CFZtv website

★ Search for Orang Pendek