Bernard Heuvelmans
Bernard Heuvelmans (
October 10,
1916 –
August 22,
2001) was a scientist, explorer, researcher, and a writer probably best known as a founder of
cryptozoology. His monumental 1958 book,
On the Track of Unknown Animals (
Sur la piste des bêtes ignorées) is often regarded as one of the best and most influential cryptozoological works.
Heuvelmans was born in
Le Havre,
France and raised in
Belgium, and earned a
doctorate of
zoology. His doctoral thesis concerned the teeth of the
aardvark, which had previously defied classification. Though earlier interested in zoological oddities, he credits a
1948 Saturday Evening Post article, "There Could be Dinosaurs", by
Ivan T. Sanderson, with inspiring a determined interest in unknown animals. Sanderson discussed the possibility of
dinosaurs surviving in remote corners of the world.
After
On the Track, Heuvelmans wrote many other books and articles, few of which have been translated into English. His works sold well among general audiences, but saw little attention from mainstream scientists and experts.
In the Wake of the Sea-Serpents was his second book translated into English and sold in America in 1968. It consisted of his book on sea serpents, with parts of his book on the giant squid added. Although
On the Track was rereleased in 1995,
In the Wake has not been reprinted and only older copies can be found.
Heuvelmans searched the world's
oceans for giant
animals, to substantiate the rumors and
legends about
animals known to local people but still unknown to
science. In the late 1960s, Heuvelmans helped spread the controversy surrounding the
Minnesota Iceman when he examined the "ice man" then in the possession of a road-traveling circus exhibitionist. Heuevelmans thought the creature could be genuine. There was never conclusive evidence given to either substantiate or discredit the Minnesota Iceman.
Although much admired and considered "the father of cryptozoology" among cryptozoologists and many general readers, Heuvelmans was also criticised and even ridiculed among sceptics for his belief in the
cryptids, for example
Swedish author and naturalist
Bengt Sjögren (1962, 1980).
Sjögren, Bengt, "
Farliga djur och djur som inte finns", 1962. Prisma.
Sjögren, Bengt, "
Berömda vidunder", 1980. Bokförlaget Settern.
In the Wake is currently published by
Kegan Paul International as
The Kraken and the Colossal Octopus (www.keganpaul.com).
*
Obituary by
Loren Coleman
