All language subtitles for In Search Of s02e01 The Loch Ness Monster 1
Afrikaans
Akan
Albanian
Amharic
Arabic
Armenian
Azerbaijani
Basque
Belarusian
Bemba
Bengali
Bihari
Bosnian
Breton
Bulgarian
Cambodian
Catalan
Cebuano
Cherokee
Chichewa
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Corsican
Croatian
Czech
Danish
Dutch
English
Esperanto
Estonian
Ewe
Faroese
Filipino
Finnish
French
Frisian
Ga
Galician
Georgian
German
Greek
Guarani
Gujarati
Haitian Creole
Hausa
Hawaiian
Hebrew
Hindi
Hmong
Hungarian
Icelandic
Igbo
Indonesian
Interlingua
Irish
Italian
Japanese
Javanese
Kannada
Kazakh
Kinyarwanda
Kirundi
Kongo
Korean
Krio (Sierra Leone)
Kurdish
Kurdish (Soranî)
Kyrgyz
Laothian
Latin
Latvian
Lingala
Lithuanian
Lozi
Luganda
Luo
Luxembourgish
Macedonian
Malagasy
Malay
Malayalam
Maltese
Maori
Marathi
Mauritian Creole
Moldavian
Mongolian
Myanmar (Burmese)
Montenegrin
Nepali
Nigerian Pidgin
Northern Sotho
Norwegian
Norwegian (Nynorsk)
Occitan
Oriya
Oromo
Pashto
Persian
Polish
Portuguese (Brazil)
Portuguese (Portugal)
Punjabi
Quechua
Romanian
Romansh
Runyakitara
Russian
Samoan
Scots Gaelic
Serbian
Serbo-Croatian
Sesotho
Setswana
Seychellois Creole
Shona
Sindhi
Sinhalese
Slovak
Slovenian
Somali
Spanish
Spanish (Latin American)
Sundanese
Swahili
Swedish
Tajik
Tamil
Tatar
Telugu
Thai
Tigrinya
Tonga
Tshiluba
Tumbuka
Turkish
Turkmen
Twi
Uighur
Ukrainian
Urdu
Uzbek
Vietnamese
Welsh
Wolof
Xhosa
Yiddish
Yoruba
Zulu
Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated:
1
00:00:03,470 --> 00:00:08,510
For centuries, the highlands of Scotland
have provided a stunning backdrop to
2
00:00:08,510 --> 00:00:10,690
one of the world's most enduring
mysteries.
3
00:00:12,390 --> 00:00:16,570
A terrifying creature that's been
spotted beneath these tranquil waters
4
00:00:16,570 --> 00:00:20,390
thousands of times, but still remains
unidentified.
5
00:00:23,010 --> 00:00:24,610
The Loch Ness Monster.
6
00:00:26,730 --> 00:00:28,390
Is it simply a legend?
7
00:00:28,790 --> 00:00:30,870
Or a case of mass hysteria?
8
00:00:31,810 --> 00:00:34,270
Or... Could it be much more?
9
00:00:35,050 --> 00:00:38,430
Is a massive creature actually lurking
in the depths?
10
00:00:39,610 --> 00:00:46,210
To find out, we'll compare decades of
encounters across northern Europe, and
11
00:00:46,210 --> 00:00:51,010
modern science to create a brand new
profile of the beast, with help from the
12
00:00:51,010 --> 00:00:52,670
world's top aquatic experts.
13
00:00:55,110 --> 00:00:56,690
What might we discover?
14
00:00:57,310 --> 00:01:00,270
Could Nessie possibly exist in some
form?
15
00:01:01,230 --> 00:01:03,830
Could it even be a new, never -before
-seen species?
16
00:01:06,090 --> 00:01:07,090
No!
17
00:01:09,490 --> 00:01:15,270
And if so, could we potentially find it
and have an up -close encounter of our
18
00:01:15,270 --> 00:01:16,270
own?
19
00:01:20,790 --> 00:01:26,550
Tonight, we dive deep in search of the
Loch Ness Monster.
20
00:01:27,350 --> 00:01:30,250
Oh, there's the bubbles! There's the
bubbles. He's getting ready to come up.
21
00:01:39,910 --> 00:01:41,710
You've probably heard this one before.
22
00:01:42,390 --> 00:01:46,330
If a tree falls in the woods and no one
is around to hear it, does it make a
23
00:01:46,330 --> 00:01:47,330
sound?
24
00:01:47,830 --> 00:01:48,830
What about this?
25
00:01:49,610 --> 00:01:54,310
If a monstrous creature swims across the
surface of a Scottish loch and no one
26
00:01:54,310 --> 00:01:56,990
takes a picture, was it ever really
there?
27
00:01:58,110 --> 00:02:04,530
For over 1 ,400 years, according to
thousands of eyewitnesses, the answer is
28
00:02:04,530 --> 00:02:05,530
yes.
29
00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:10,780
All of them saw something emerge from
the depths of Loch Ness.
30
00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:14,180
The question is, what was it?
31
00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:18,100
Whatever it is, it's certainly camera
shy.
32
00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:21,460
But that doesn't mean that Nessie can't
be identified.
33
00:02:21,860 --> 00:02:26,380
In fact, we actually have a large pool
of information to draw from.
34
00:02:26,640 --> 00:02:33,020
We have first -person encounters,
recorded histories, and even some
35
00:02:33,020 --> 00:02:34,020
video.
36
00:02:34,190 --> 00:02:38,870
We have known species with similar
characteristics that we can study for
37
00:02:38,870 --> 00:02:40,370
to Nessie's behavior.
38
00:02:42,250 --> 00:02:47,730
Add it all up, and perhaps we can build
a profile of the monster to find out
39
00:02:47,730 --> 00:02:51,330
once and for all if the legend could
possibly be true.
40
00:02:53,170 --> 00:02:59,970
With that goal in mind, let's start with
a man who says he's actually seen
41
00:02:59,970 --> 00:03:00,970
the beast.
42
00:03:06,620 --> 00:03:11,320
Retired engineer Gordon Holmes is one of
the few people who claims to have
43
00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:13,240
captured the Loch Ness Monster on
camera.
44
00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:20,820
He's taking us the exact spot at the
water's edge where his life changed
45
00:03:20,820 --> 00:03:21,820
forever.
46
00:03:22,220 --> 00:03:28,500
I saw the monster at 10 minutes to 10 on
the 26th of May 2007.
47
00:03:29,660 --> 00:03:33,320
During the morning I'd been doing
hydrophonic research on the Loch.
48
00:03:33,900 --> 00:03:39,520
At the evening, I decided to go up to
the lay -by, which had a good commanding
49
00:03:39,520 --> 00:03:42,280
view of the lock, about 70 foot above
the surface.
50
00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:49,080
This was my fourth visit up to the lock,
and I hadn't actually got anything
51
00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:51,900
concrete, evidence of something
mysterious.
52
00:03:56,480 --> 00:04:01,640
Despite years spent waiting, Gordon
remained determined to see the Loch Ness
53
00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:02,640
Monster.
54
00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:07,320
And on this day, his persistence finally
paid off.
55
00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:12,640
I'd been there for a few hours and then
suddenly I saw something coming towards
56
00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:13,640
me.
57
00:04:14,100 --> 00:04:18,760
I immediately reached over the back seat
and grabbed my camcorder.
58
00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:24,980
I dashed out, slammed the door, and then
suddenly I realised that's not what
59
00:04:24,980 --> 00:04:30,360
you're supposed to do. I've read that if
you see a potential monster...
60
00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:35,900
Don't slam the door, because that'll
frighten it. So I then ran down to the
61
00:04:35,900 --> 00:04:40,220
of the lay -by and realised it
disappeared. Where's it gone?
62
00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:47,580
And then suddenly I saw it over to the
right and immediately I got the
63
00:04:47,580 --> 00:04:50,260
and zoomed into its position.
64
00:04:51,460 --> 00:04:56,000
For the next two and a half minutes, I
was privileged to one of the most
65
00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:57,300
sights I've ever seen.
66
00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:09,440
As you can see from Gordon's footage,
there is most definitely some type of
67
00:05:09,440 --> 00:05:11,440
large animal swimming across the loch.
68
00:05:17,280 --> 00:05:18,800
But what could it be?
69
00:05:19,860 --> 00:05:24,980
This thing was like bubbling along the
waves. At no point did it break through
70
00:05:24,980 --> 00:05:27,580
the surface of the streamlined water
flow.
71
00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:33,760
The creature appears to be moving in a
serpentine fashion.
72
00:05:34,400 --> 00:05:36,060
almost slithering through the water.
73
00:05:38,220 --> 00:05:43,440
Based on the species known to inhabit
Loch Ness, one might conclude that this
74
00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:44,440
an eel.
75
00:05:46,420 --> 00:05:51,540
But when you analyze the video more
carefully, the eel theory seems
76
00:05:53,100 --> 00:05:57,620
I read somewhere that if you ever get a
sighting of something like this, you
77
00:05:57,620 --> 00:05:59,040
should zoom in and out.
78
00:05:59,870 --> 00:06:05,830
so that the people that analyze the
footage can always then estimate the
79
00:06:05,830 --> 00:06:07,290
whatever the creature was.
80
00:06:07,510 --> 00:06:12,910
And at the same time, you can prove it's
not like a fake because she's seen it
81
00:06:12,910 --> 00:06:13,910
in context.
82
00:06:14,910 --> 00:06:21,870
In context, the animal appears to be at
least 15 feet long, much larger than any
83
00:06:21,870 --> 00:06:27,490
freshwater eel species, and therefore
potentially something completely
84
00:06:28,940 --> 00:06:33,040
It was certainly going at speed into the
waves. It wasn't some sort of log.
85
00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:38,720
This was a creature that had energy, it
had power. It was thrusting through the
86
00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:39,720
waves.
87
00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:45,300
In addition to the creature's length,
experts were able to determine that it
88
00:06:45,300 --> 00:06:47,980
moving at a top speed of six miles per
hour.
89
00:06:50,180 --> 00:06:56,080
This is probably the best footage up to
this time of the so -called Loch Ness
90
00:06:56,080 --> 00:06:57,080
Monster.
91
00:06:57,100 --> 00:07:01,540
I realised this was a turning point in
the history of the Loch Ness Monster.
92
00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:07,820
But Gordon is still unsatisfied.
93
00:07:08,420 --> 00:07:11,600
He hopes to eventually have another
encounter with the creature.
94
00:07:11,820 --> 00:07:15,800
And this time, he plans to be ready with
even better equipment.
95
00:07:18,060 --> 00:07:24,960
If money was no object, I'd have my own
research boat with underwater robotic
96
00:07:24,960 --> 00:07:25,960
vehicles.
97
00:07:28,499 --> 00:07:32,980
Meanwhile, Gordon has purchased a
hydrophone to pick up sound signatures
98
00:07:32,980 --> 00:07:39,640
water, a sky camera carried by helium
balloons as a makeshift drone, and a
99
00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:40,640
magnetometer.
100
00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:49,160
In order to understand Nessie's
environment, should she exist, you need
101
00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:53,300
to delve into all the parameters
possible, the variables and the
102
00:07:54,830 --> 00:07:58,270
But science alone may not be enough to
catch a second glimpse.
103
00:07:59,510 --> 00:08:02,570
Gordon believes it will take some luck
as well.
104
00:08:04,250 --> 00:08:09,050
I've witnessed several times tourists
that come to the side of the lock and
105
00:08:09,050 --> 00:08:13,090
can tell they're praying to see
something, to see the monster.
106
00:08:13,590 --> 00:08:19,290
And I, by chance, being in the right
place at the right time, just happened
107
00:08:19,290 --> 00:08:22,330
capture on film something remarkable.
108
00:08:29,040 --> 00:08:33,299
But of course Gordon Holmes' sighting is
only a small part of a much longer
109
00:08:33,299 --> 00:08:34,980
history for this unknown species.
110
00:08:38,820 --> 00:08:43,860
If we want to solve the mystery of the
Loch Ness Monster, we'll have to go back
111
00:08:43,860 --> 00:08:44,860
a whole lot further.
112
00:08:46,080 --> 00:08:51,720
The Loch Ness Monster was first written
about in 565 A .D. in the story of St.
113
00:08:51,860 --> 00:08:56,700
Columba, an Irish monk who was traveling
along the banks of the River Ness.
114
00:08:57,050 --> 00:08:58,810
when he happened upon a man's funeral.
115
00:09:01,010 --> 00:09:05,890
The townspeople explained that the man
had been swimming when he was attacked
116
00:09:05,890 --> 00:09:07,690
and killed by a water beast.
117
00:09:12,410 --> 00:09:17,150
At that time, people most likely
believed this water beast was a dragon.
118
00:09:18,870 --> 00:09:23,070
But as the centuries passed, people
stopped believing in dragons.
119
00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:26,800
Yet the sightings continued.
120
00:09:27,680 --> 00:09:31,420
All in the same area, and all eerily
similar.
121
00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:36,980
A massive unidentified animal churning
up the water as it swims across the
122
00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:41,420
This was no mythical creature.
123
00:09:41,880 --> 00:09:43,280
This was no dragon.
124
00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:48,100
Witnesses confirmed that whatever it
was, it was very real.
125
00:09:52,319 --> 00:09:55,420
Local pubs were full of stories of the
mysterious beast.
126
00:09:56,720 --> 00:10:02,920
But the legend of the Loch Ness Monster
wasn't taken seriously until 1933, when
127
00:10:02,920 --> 00:10:07,160
a reputable law enforcement officer,
Loch Ness water bailiff Alex Campbell,
128
00:10:07,380 --> 00:10:09,720
spotted the monster multiple times.
129
00:10:10,980 --> 00:10:15,220
What's the most you've ever seen of it
at any one sighting? The best view I
130
00:10:15,220 --> 00:10:19,260
had was the very first thing. I saw the
head, the neck, and the huge body, which
131
00:10:19,260 --> 00:10:21,020
I'd say was about 30 feet long.
132
00:10:21,420 --> 00:10:23,520
And the skin was exactly like that of an
elephant.
133
00:10:23,780 --> 00:10:24,920
Wrinkly, tough -looking.
134
00:10:25,140 --> 00:10:28,960
Is it not possible, Mr. Campbell, that
you're mistaken in this? Not at all.
135
00:10:29,980 --> 00:10:35,100
When all of this evidence is combined,
it seems that there actually might be a
136
00:10:35,100 --> 00:10:37,520
large, unidentified species in Loch
Ness.
137
00:10:39,520 --> 00:10:44,820
Monster or not, we can start to use this
information to build a profile and find
138
00:10:44,820 --> 00:10:45,820
out for ourselves.
139
00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:53,240
Campbell described a beast 30 feet from
end to end, with a four -foot -high body
140
00:10:53,240 --> 00:10:56,460
and a wavy, narrow neck stretching 12
feet long.
141
00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:03,360
After years of vague descriptions and
tall tales, this was the first highly
142
00:11:03,360 --> 00:11:08,160
detailed account of the alleged creature
that would soon be dubbed the Loch Ness
143
00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:09,160
Monster.
144
00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:15,420
And just a few months later, an even
more spectacular bombshell fueled Nessie
145
00:11:15,420 --> 00:11:16,900
fever around the world.
146
00:11:19,050 --> 00:11:26,050
On April 21st, 1934, London's Daily Mail
published what it claimed
147
00:11:26,050 --> 00:11:30,650
was the first photograph ever taken of
the Loch Ness Monster.
148
00:11:39,150 --> 00:11:44,090
Sightings of Scotland's famed Loch Ness
Monster have been reported since the 6th
149
00:11:44,090 --> 00:11:45,090
century.
150
00:11:46,060 --> 00:11:52,380
But it wasn't until April 21st, 1934,
that the search for the creature truly
151
00:11:52,380 --> 00:11:53,380
took off.
152
00:11:54,160 --> 00:11:56,280
And it was all thanks to this.
153
00:12:00,020 --> 00:12:04,080
Known as the Surgeon's Photograph, the
picture was snapped by London
154
00:12:04,080 --> 00:12:10,780
gynecologist Robert Kenneth Wilson while
out for a lakeside walk and published
155
00:12:10,780 --> 00:12:12,700
in London's Daily Mail newspaper.
156
00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:21,360
The image appears to show a silhouetted
figure with a long, slender neck, a
157
00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:25,520
small head, and a large body that's
obscured by the waterline.
158
00:12:30,900 --> 00:12:35,880
Immediately after the photo was
published, the British public began
159
00:12:35,880 --> 00:12:38,000
on the nature of this mysterious beast.
160
00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:41,740
What could this photo possibly depict?
161
00:12:44,520 --> 00:12:47,700
Some suggested it was the dorsal fin of
a dolphin or whale.
162
00:12:49,460 --> 00:12:53,060
Others thought it might be a submerged
elephant raising its trunk to breathe.
163
00:12:54,820 --> 00:12:59,520
A circus had recently visited the area,
giving more strength to this theory.
164
00:13:01,320 --> 00:13:06,360
But the most popular belief may also
have been the most far -fetched.
165
00:13:08,060 --> 00:13:12,220
Many thought this was a creature that
had been extinct for millions of years.
166
00:13:13,550 --> 00:13:17,630
It's a theory that continued for decades
after the photo was first published.
167
00:13:18,770 --> 00:13:21,690
So what particular species do you think
it is?
168
00:13:22,090 --> 00:13:27,390
The evidence, as I interpret it, all
fits, and I know this is a fantastic
169
00:13:27,390 --> 00:13:29,850
statement, but this all fits plesiosaur.
170
00:13:32,950 --> 00:13:37,190
Could it be possible that the
plesiosaur, thought to have died out
171
00:13:37,190 --> 00:13:42,170
dinosaurs, had actually survived, only
to end up here in Scotland?
172
00:13:43,530 --> 00:13:47,410
Before you decide for yourself, there's
one thing you should know.
173
00:13:48,330 --> 00:13:52,410
This first iconic image was a Hulk.
174
00:13:57,330 --> 00:14:03,730
In 1994, 60 years after it was first
published in the Daily Mail, the true
175
00:14:03,730 --> 00:14:05,330
of the photograph came to light.
176
00:14:05,810 --> 00:14:10,810
The newspaper hired big game hunter
Marmaduke Wetherall to find evidence of
177
00:14:10,810 --> 00:14:16,590
monster. Instead, he created a model of
a beast with a long neck and attached it
178
00:14:16,590 --> 00:14:17,590
to a toy submarine.
179
00:14:18,050 --> 00:14:23,130
He then chose a trustworthy physician,
Dr. R. Kenneth Wilson, to deliver the
180
00:14:23,130 --> 00:14:24,930
photograph of his creation.
181
00:14:25,250 --> 00:14:27,450
And the rest is history.
182
00:14:28,150 --> 00:14:33,230
But that one hoax doesn't explain
countless other sightings and more
183
00:14:33,230 --> 00:14:36,810
photo and video evidence that has yet to
be disproven.
184
00:14:38,110 --> 00:14:41,710
In 1955, Peter McNabb captured this
image.
185
00:14:42,090 --> 00:14:47,610
In the 1970s, an American scientist shot
this underwater photograph depicting a
186
00:14:47,610 --> 00:14:49,030
30 -foot -long flipper.
187
00:14:49,310 --> 00:14:54,310
And of course, we have the 2007 footage
from Gordon Holmes.
188
00:14:56,490 --> 00:15:00,690
None of these sightings provide
definitive proof of the Loch Ness
189
00:15:00,690 --> 00:15:01,690
existence.
190
00:15:02,150 --> 00:15:06,970
But they do suggest the possibility that
some large species might be lurking
191
00:15:06,970 --> 00:15:07,970
there.
192
00:15:09,770 --> 00:15:12,630
The question is, what species could it
be?
193
00:15:13,390 --> 00:15:16,590
Can we build a profile to potentially
identify it?
194
00:15:17,770 --> 00:15:22,930
First of all, Gordon Holmes described an
eel -like aspect to the front of the
195
00:15:22,930 --> 00:15:23,930
creature.
196
00:15:25,010 --> 00:15:29,290
His video shows that it can hold itself
up near the surface for an extended
197
00:15:29,290 --> 00:15:33,350
period, with a cruising speed of 6 miles
per hour.
198
00:15:35,010 --> 00:15:39,660
Therefore, Something below the water is
propelling it upwards as well as
199
00:15:39,660 --> 00:15:40,660
forwards.
200
00:15:41,700 --> 00:15:44,440
Most likely the flippers seen in this
image.
201
00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:53,580
Unfortunately, this small amount of
visual evidence can't tell us much else.
202
00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:59,960
But we do know one more key piece of
information that's crucial to our
203
00:16:02,120 --> 00:16:04,420
We know that if this species exists,
204
00:16:05,180 --> 00:16:10,420
It has managed to elude capture for more
than 1 ,400 years in these Scottish
205
00:16:10,420 --> 00:16:11,420
waterways.
206
00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:22,500
Local water bailiff Chris Conroy thinks
he knows how an animal could manage to
207
00:16:22,500 --> 00:16:25,580
stay undetected for so long in these
unique conditions.
208
00:16:32,030 --> 00:16:36,630
Loch Ness contains as much water as all
the rivers and lakes in England and
209
00:16:36,630 --> 00:16:37,449
Wales combined.
210
00:16:37,450 --> 00:16:40,870
It's the largest water body in the whole
of the UK. It's absolutely massive.
211
00:16:42,830 --> 00:16:45,630
It's really hard to comprehend just how
big this loch is.
212
00:16:45,910 --> 00:16:50,050
It runs from east to west. It's a total
of about 23 miles long.
213
00:16:50,270 --> 00:16:54,470
It averages about a mile wide and it's
about 750 feet deep.
214
00:16:55,170 --> 00:16:59,730
If you look at the shape of the loch,
you've got these really steep sides.
215
00:17:00,940 --> 00:17:04,680
The tops of the hills here are about the
same height up as the depth of the
216
00:17:04,680 --> 00:17:09,079
loch, and they go straight down on the
edges, very, very steep, and as you hit
217
00:17:09,079 --> 00:17:12,980
the bottom of the loch, it becomes very
flat, very full of sediment, and you get
218
00:17:12,980 --> 00:17:14,060
this sort of bathtub shape.
219
00:17:18,099 --> 00:17:21,920
In other words, there's plenty of room
in Loch Ness to hide.
220
00:17:23,040 --> 00:17:27,440
And even if someone were to search
beneath the water, they wouldn't survive
221
00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:28,440
long.
222
00:17:30,090 --> 00:17:34,930
Loch Ness features a phenomenon called a
thermocline, which causes deadly
223
00:17:34,930 --> 00:17:36,690
conditions as you dive down.
224
00:17:40,390 --> 00:17:42,310
It's a stratification of temperature.
225
00:17:42,510 --> 00:17:46,870
So as you go down into the water column,
a relatively short distance, you
226
00:17:46,870 --> 00:17:50,330
suddenly hit a temperature barrier and
there'll be a significant change in
227
00:17:50,330 --> 00:17:52,830
temperature up to maybe around 10
degrees.
228
00:17:53,530 --> 00:17:59,210
This affects the chemistry underneath.
So if you are to go underneath...
229
00:17:59,560 --> 00:18:01,820
that barrier, you'll suddenly become
very, very cold.
230
00:18:03,660 --> 00:18:07,700
Even at the locked surface, the average
water temperature is 42 degrees
231
00:18:07,700 --> 00:18:08,700
Fahrenheit.
232
00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:14,760
Beneath the thermocline, without the
protection of a modern dry suit, a diver
233
00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:16,660
could drown in under six minutes.
234
00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:23,880
And those freezing temperatures are
paired with near blackout conditions.
235
00:18:29,070 --> 00:18:32,910
it's an absolutely perfect place for
something to hide it's it's very
236
00:18:32,910 --> 00:18:37,830
to see anything the water is very peaty
as we call it now the peat is basically
237
00:18:37,830 --> 00:18:42,910
organic matter that's breaking down it's
washed into the rivers and that comes
238
00:18:42,910 --> 00:18:49,770
flows into the loch and you end up with
this really dark tea colored water okay
239
00:18:49,770 --> 00:18:52,390
let's do a little bit of a test here
just to show you what the water's like
240
00:18:52,390 --> 00:18:58,150
here so i've got a standard whiskey
glass we just pop it in the water here
241
00:18:58,150 --> 00:19:04,830
in the top you can see how clear it is
but don't let that fool you because
242
00:19:04,830 --> 00:19:09,390
as you get deeper down you'll see the
color change if you were to go just a
243
00:19:09,390 --> 00:19:13,530
little bit further down or towards the
bottom it would start to look more like
244
00:19:13,530 --> 00:19:19,910
this you can see it's much more tea
-like in color and it's all the organic
245
00:19:19,910 --> 00:19:24,250
matter that's broken down leaves and
other plant material that's washed down
246
00:19:24,250 --> 00:19:25,890
rivers and creates this really dark
color
247
00:19:30,700 --> 00:19:35,840
While that unique watercolor makes the
alleged monster hard to find, it also
248
00:19:35,840 --> 00:19:38,700
gives us a significant clue to its
possible appearance.
249
00:19:40,660 --> 00:19:45,620
If it can stay undetected in these
conditions, it must have a natural
250
00:19:45,620 --> 00:19:46,620
camouflage.
251
00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:54,960
Nessie's skin has often been portrayed
as flat gray or bright green.
252
00:19:55,900 --> 00:19:57,240
But in fact...
253
00:19:57,550 --> 00:20:02,770
it much more likely matches the tea
-like appearance of the surrounding
254
00:20:02,770 --> 00:20:03,970
mottled brownish color.
255
00:20:07,650 --> 00:20:13,010
But if we hope to identify the Loch Ness
Monster, knowing its color won't be
256
00:20:13,010 --> 00:20:14,010
enough.
257
00:20:19,030 --> 00:20:25,690
At 750 feet deep and 23 miles long, near
blackout conditions
258
00:20:25,690 --> 00:20:26,730
below the water,
259
00:20:27,850 --> 00:20:30,630
and average surface temperatures of 42
degrees,
260
00:20:31,410 --> 00:20:36,370
Loch Ness is an incredibly challenging
place to track down an unknown species.
261
00:20:38,210 --> 00:20:43,710
But if we hope to identify the Loch Ness
monster, at some point, we'll have to
262
00:20:43,710 --> 00:20:44,710
dive in.
263
00:20:49,010 --> 00:20:54,550
Fortunately, before we do, footage from
several underwater cameras can give us a
264
00:20:54,550 --> 00:20:56,850
preview of what lives beneath the
surface.
265
00:21:06,640 --> 00:21:12,200
A surprising number of species thrive in
the loch, even at its maximum depth of
266
00:21:12,200 --> 00:21:13,420
750 feet.
267
00:21:14,020 --> 00:21:19,860
We've got trout, brown trout, we've got
arctic char, we've got eels, we've got
268
00:21:19,860 --> 00:21:24,660
lamprey species, and then we've got
other species which have been seen here,
269
00:21:24,740 --> 00:21:29,180
which include the records of sturgeon,
northern pike, and perch.
270
00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:33,600
In addition to the fish, mammals follow
the fish into the river, and we
271
00:21:33,600 --> 00:21:34,600
regularly get seals.
272
00:21:35,070 --> 00:21:38,370
living in Loch Ness, particularly the
common or harbour seal, and it's an easy
273
00:21:38,370 --> 00:21:39,370
food source for them.
274
00:21:41,690 --> 00:21:44,630
And could it also be a food source for
something else?
275
00:21:46,190 --> 00:21:52,810
Could the loch's population of trout,
arctic char, pike, eels and lamprey
276
00:21:52,810 --> 00:21:57,050
possibly be enough to feed a large
predator all year round?
277
00:22:00,450 --> 00:22:02,530
Sounds like there's a lot, but
actually...
278
00:22:03,070 --> 00:22:08,130
Given the depth and the size of it,
there isn't as much as a density of food
279
00:22:08,130 --> 00:22:12,010
you might think. The fish are generally
focused in key areas. There are quite a
280
00:22:12,010 --> 00:22:14,010
few fish in here, but there's also a lot
of nothing as well.
281
00:22:15,610 --> 00:22:21,390
But two times a year, the situation
drastically changes, and Loch Ness
282
00:22:21,390 --> 00:22:23,070
veritable all -you -can -eat buffet.
283
00:22:24,830 --> 00:22:30,190
All thanks to the Atlantic salmon that
return to these waters in large numbers
284
00:22:30,190 --> 00:22:31,810
annually to spawn.
285
00:22:32,780 --> 00:22:38,800
The salmon migrate up from the sea and
they use the loch as a refuge for them.
286
00:22:38,860 --> 00:22:41,140
It's nice because it's so deep and dark,
they can hide in here.
287
00:22:41,360 --> 00:22:45,600
And they generally need a nice flow of
fresh water, so you'll quite often find
288
00:22:45,600 --> 00:22:49,060
them at the mouths of rivers where
they're waiting to migrate upstream to
289
00:22:50,460 --> 00:22:53,600
They're packing on these nutrients and
by the time they return to the river,
290
00:22:53,720 --> 00:22:57,800
they're really fit, healthy, fat fish.
291
00:23:03,950 --> 00:23:07,310
Would this be enough food for a large
predator like Nessie?
292
00:23:08,390 --> 00:23:13,050
Chris hasn't seen the monster yet, but
thinks it is within the realm of
293
00:23:13,050 --> 00:23:14,050
possibility.
294
00:23:15,330 --> 00:23:19,710
I've been here six years, so I've still
got time for us to see something.
295
00:23:21,370 --> 00:23:25,770
But I'll say my colleagues don't rule
anything out. You do tend to see some
296
00:23:25,770 --> 00:23:28,290
strange things at strange times of the
day and night.
297
00:23:29,110 --> 00:23:32,910
It does show you that things can turn up
and things can appear that you don't
298
00:23:32,910 --> 00:23:33,910
expect.
299
00:23:36,520 --> 00:23:42,500
If Nessie exists, then clearly it needs
to eat in incredibly large quantities.
300
00:23:43,100 --> 00:23:47,520
The spring and summer salmon migrations
would go a long way towards sustaining
301
00:23:47,520 --> 00:23:52,400
the creature, assuming it could somehow
live off that feeding frenzy through the
302
00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:54,480
less bountiful fall and winter.
303
00:23:55,980 --> 00:23:59,560
Sightings place Nessie at between 30 and
50 feet in length.
304
00:23:59,800 --> 00:24:02,900
For comparison, consider the great white
shark.
305
00:24:03,480 --> 00:24:07,260
which is half as long and averages 5
,000 pounds in weight.
306
00:24:07,800 --> 00:24:12,940
Nessie, therefore, could tip the scales
at upwards of 10 ,000 pounds.
307
00:24:14,240 --> 00:24:18,800
Based on a great white's diet, to
maintain that weight, the Loch Ness
308
00:24:18,800 --> 00:24:24,680
would need to eat around 250 pounds of
fish per day during its feeding season
309
00:24:24,680 --> 00:24:25,920
sustain it through the year.
310
00:24:27,540 --> 00:24:32,740
The creature's diet, size, and weight
are crucial additions to our profile.
311
00:24:33,320 --> 00:24:37,360
especially when added to our previous
theories on its coloring, its movement
312
00:24:37,360 --> 00:24:40,300
speed, and its partial serpent -like
appearance.
313
00:24:48,240 --> 00:24:53,260
Despite thousands of sightings and near
constant speculation about the Loch Ness
314
00:24:53,260 --> 00:24:58,020
Monster, there's still very little
agreement about its features or where it
315
00:24:58,020 --> 00:24:59,020
might be found.
316
00:25:01,390 --> 00:25:04,690
It's a problem that's been frustrating
Nessie hunters for decades.
317
00:25:06,430 --> 00:25:12,530
We're not spending all this time and
money trying to prove that there's a
318
00:25:12,530 --> 00:25:16,230
unidentified species in Loch Ness. We
know that.
319
00:25:16,630 --> 00:25:19,150
We've seen it. We know it's here.
320
00:25:20,270 --> 00:25:23,510
What we are trying to do now is identify
the species.
321
00:25:32,970 --> 00:25:39,690
Today, a brand new profile is emerging,
which once complete, could help us
322
00:25:39,690 --> 00:25:40,990
finally find the beast.
323
00:25:46,050 --> 00:25:50,030
But while most researchers have focused
their efforts within the Scottish
324
00:25:50,030 --> 00:25:53,230
Highlands, they're ignoring a key data
source.
325
00:25:54,190 --> 00:25:59,870
Because as it turns out, this unknown
species might have a long -lost twin
326
00:25:59,870 --> 00:26:01,730
outside the loch.
327
00:26:06,250 --> 00:26:11,830
In the 17th century, a similar creature
began appearing here, in northern
328
00:26:11,830 --> 00:26:13,450
Sweden's Storsjön Lake.
329
00:26:15,930 --> 00:26:19,170
The Swedes call it the Great Lake
Monster.
330
00:26:23,050 --> 00:26:29,210
In the eastern town of Åstersund,
archaeologist Anders Hansson has been
331
00:26:29,210 --> 00:26:34,710
the Great Lake Monster for years and
believes there is a definite link to
332
00:26:34,710 --> 00:26:35,710
Ness.
333
00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:41,820
We know that people have always been
seeing strange things in big waters, and
334
00:26:41,820 --> 00:26:46,400
this is part of the Western and
Norwegian tradition, and even up to
335
00:26:46,600 --> 00:26:48,320
that we have these sea serpents.
336
00:26:50,020 --> 00:26:55,260
There have been rumors of an unknown
underwater species in Storzjan as far
337
00:26:55,260 --> 00:26:59,820
as the 11th century, not long after
rumors of Nessie began.
338
00:27:01,740 --> 00:27:05,460
One early description was even recorded
on a Viking relic.
339
00:27:05,740 --> 00:27:10,580
called the Frozo Runestone, that has
stood in Östersund since 1050.
340
00:27:13,940 --> 00:27:18,640
And as you can see, it's got this great
serpent, this dragon on it.
341
00:27:19,160 --> 00:27:24,860
And this is what is said to be the
first, actually first picture and story
342
00:27:24,860 --> 00:27:26,020
the Great Lake Monster.
343
00:27:29,440 --> 00:27:33,280
A similar timeline isn't the only thing
these two creatures share.
344
00:27:34,320 --> 00:27:40,400
Both Loch Ness and Storzian are cold
freshwater lakes, and both feed directly
345
00:27:40,400 --> 00:27:44,220
into the same common body of water, the
North Sea.
346
00:27:45,980 --> 00:27:52,580
In other words, a migratory aquatic
species could swim between both
347
00:27:52,580 --> 00:27:53,580
lakes.
348
00:27:54,480 --> 00:27:59,280
Physical accounts of the Swedish monster
also line up with alleged Nessie
349
00:27:59,280 --> 00:28:00,280
sightings.
350
00:28:02,510 --> 00:28:08,330
Seeing something in the lake, sometimes
it's three meters, sometimes it's 15
351
00:28:08,330 --> 00:28:09,330
meters long.
352
00:28:09,870 --> 00:28:14,590
Almost all the witnesses describe the
monster with a long sea serpent -like
353
00:28:14,590 --> 00:28:16,990
and the head of a dog or a horse.
354
00:28:20,690 --> 00:28:25,510
Some of them are quite dramatic, talking
about the speed of the monster and how
355
00:28:25,510 --> 00:28:30,130
the mouth of it was so big that you
could put down, I mean, your whole head
356
00:28:30,130 --> 00:28:31,130
the mouth of the monster.
357
00:28:32,200 --> 00:28:33,440
Ready to see the archive?
358
00:28:33,760 --> 00:28:35,420
Yeah. We have it in the vault.
359
00:28:35,840 --> 00:28:40,580
Material or what? Anders' colleague,
Anna Engman, keeps careful track of
360
00:28:40,580 --> 00:28:43,280
hundreds of written witness statements
at the Jamtli Museum.
361
00:28:43,800 --> 00:28:44,779
This way.
362
00:28:44,780 --> 00:28:48,920
Today, she's agreed to let us take a
rare look at some of them.
363
00:28:49,200 --> 00:28:51,720
Yeah, here it is. Great lake monster.
364
00:28:52,380 --> 00:28:53,520
Storsjö og djuret.
365
00:28:54,720 --> 00:28:57,780
Okay, it's all this about the monster,
really?
366
00:28:59,020 --> 00:29:05,800
Yeah, it's all this is about the monster
So this
367
00:29:05,800 --> 00:29:12,140
is a lot of observation from Dating from
368
00:29:12,140 --> 00:29:19,140
1990 until the late 18th century This
one
369
00:29:19,140 --> 00:29:25,940
is from around 1930 She's telling this
story
370
00:29:25,940 --> 00:29:31,110
about how she She saw the monster when
she was doing the laundry by the lake,
371
00:29:31,230 --> 00:29:35,730
and it was huge, and it was grey and
ugly.
372
00:29:36,090 --> 00:29:37,069
Grey and ugly?
373
00:29:37,070 --> 00:29:42,410
Yeah, grey and ugly. And she got so
scared, she ran away, left the laundry
374
00:29:42,410 --> 00:29:43,410
ran away.
375
00:29:43,570 --> 00:29:46,630
And when she turned around, the monster
was gone.
376
00:29:46,870 --> 00:29:47,870
Okay.
377
00:29:49,370 --> 00:29:53,810
Many sightings also describe a back that
is covered in pointy, fin -like
378
00:29:53,810 --> 00:29:54,810
protrusions.
379
00:29:56,720 --> 00:29:58,920
A man who's seen the monster.
380
00:29:59,240 --> 00:30:03,540
He's seen something black with three
bumps on it.
381
00:30:04,480 --> 00:30:06,020
Oh, yeah. Here we can see.
382
00:30:07,180 --> 00:30:12,280
The museum also keeps records of
attempts to trap the monster, like one
383
00:30:12,280 --> 00:30:16,320
1890s, sponsored by the King of Sweden,
Oscar II.
384
00:30:20,160 --> 00:30:22,200
We have this huge trap.
385
00:30:22,920 --> 00:30:27,520
And it's said to come from a company
that was established 1894.
386
00:30:28,340 --> 00:30:31,160
And the reason for the company was to
catch the monster.
387
00:30:31,760 --> 00:30:38,140
And this big trap was supposed to be
baited with a pig and sunk down into the
388
00:30:38,140 --> 00:30:42,940
lake. And to guard it and catch the
monster, they hired a Norwegian whaler
389
00:30:42,940 --> 00:30:45,280
because he could use his harpoons.
390
00:30:46,840 --> 00:30:49,060
That early capture attempt failed.
391
00:30:51,560 --> 00:30:56,320
But the search for the Swedish monster
continues today on the south side of
392
00:30:56,320 --> 00:30:57,320
Storsjön.
393
00:30:58,340 --> 00:31:03,660
Kurt Jansson runs the monster center
there that monitors activity in the
394
00:31:05,320 --> 00:31:08,380
The center was opened in 2012.
395
00:31:08,840 --> 00:31:13,380
Here at the center we are searching for
the Great Lake Monster.
396
00:31:14,020 --> 00:31:19,380
During the summer with the boats and
during the night with cameras.
397
00:31:20,190 --> 00:31:25,090
And hopefully that we're going to find
it and have it on picture.
398
00:31:26,070 --> 00:31:27,070
That's the goal.
399
00:31:29,490 --> 00:31:35,490
Kurt and his team set up two surface
cameras, two underwater, a night vision
400
00:31:35,490 --> 00:31:38,830
camera, as well as one that's sensitive
to temperature.
401
00:31:40,730 --> 00:31:45,750
Despite 24 -hour surveillance, they have
yet to pick up an adult specimen of the
402
00:31:45,750 --> 00:31:48,310
creature. But Kurt believes...
403
00:31:48,670 --> 00:31:50,050
He did see a younger one.
404
00:31:51,250 --> 00:31:56,990
Many times we have seen something, but
actually we don't know what it is. One
405
00:31:56,990 --> 00:32:01,070
time we saw a little baby from the Great
Lake Monster.
406
00:32:01,530 --> 00:32:06,550
And it was posing up like this at the
end of the picture, like Loch Ness.
407
00:32:10,510 --> 00:32:14,990
If one is willing to believe in the Loch
Ness Monster, there's no reason to
408
00:32:14,990 --> 00:32:17,650
doubt Sweden's accounts of the Great
Lake Monster.
409
00:32:18,380 --> 00:32:21,260
Perhaps its features can help add to our
profile.
410
00:32:22,200 --> 00:32:26,000
Witnesses in Sweden have managed to spot
two more key details.
411
00:32:27,200 --> 00:32:31,200
First, the addition of fin along the
creature's back.
412
00:32:31,480 --> 00:32:35,380
No Scottish sighting has been clear
enough to make this determination.
413
00:32:36,640 --> 00:32:41,300
Second, the Swedes describe a head that
resembles a dog or a horse.
414
00:32:41,700 --> 00:32:46,060
While it's unlikely to be covered in
fur, it does change our concept of the
415
00:32:46,060 --> 00:32:47,060
skull's shape.
416
00:32:47,230 --> 00:32:51,890
indicating that Nessie's head could
taper into a longer, thinner contour,
417
00:32:51,890 --> 00:32:53,110
unlike a dog's snout.
418
00:32:54,430 --> 00:32:56,010
So what do we have here?
419
00:32:56,350 --> 00:33:02,330
Two similar creatures spotted along
similar timelines, both in large, cold,
420
00:33:02,470 --> 00:33:03,970
northern freshwater lakes.
421
00:33:04,430 --> 00:33:10,390
And what's more, these two lakes are
directly linked via the North Sea.
422
00:33:12,170 --> 00:33:17,790
If the Swedish and Scottish monsters are
related, or even the same species, it
423
00:33:17,790 --> 00:33:19,190
raises a frightening possibility.
424
00:33:20,150 --> 00:33:24,790
Perhaps the Loch Ness Monster isn't
trapped in the loch at all.
425
00:33:34,370 --> 00:33:39,550
For over 1 ,400 years, people have
struggled to identify the mysterious
426
00:33:39,550 --> 00:33:42,140
creature. known as the Loch Ness
Monster.
427
00:33:45,800 --> 00:33:50,600
While definitive proof of the monster's
existence has yet to be found, it's
428
00:33:50,600 --> 00:33:54,260
clear that something big has been
spotted multiple times.
429
00:33:56,600 --> 00:34:00,440
Could it potentially be a new, still
undiscovered species?
430
00:34:02,140 --> 00:34:06,540
In our quest to profile the animal,
we've just made a shocking discovery.
431
00:34:08,560 --> 00:34:14,440
Another creature, described as nearly
identical to Nessie, allegedly living
432
00:34:14,440 --> 00:34:18,980
miles away in Sweden's Storsjön Lake.
433
00:34:21,860 --> 00:34:26,340
This is a potential game changer in our
quest to identify the Loch Ness Monster.
434
00:34:27,360 --> 00:34:30,820
Is it possible that Nessie is part of a
migratory species?
435
00:34:32,199 --> 00:34:36,380
If so, what does this mean about its
behaviors and appearance?
436
00:34:40,840 --> 00:34:47,060
Believe it or not, the answers may lie 3
,500 miles from the loch, on the James
437
00:34:47,060 --> 00:34:52,620
River in Virginia, where ecologist Dr.
Matt Velazic has been studying another
438
00:34:52,620 --> 00:34:55,080
migratory species for 12 years.
439
00:34:56,739 --> 00:35:01,780
We're at the VCU Rice River Center on
the James River in Richmond, Virginia,
440
00:35:01,780 --> 00:35:05,500
we're going to be going after some
spring adult Atlantic sturgeon.
441
00:35:07,720 --> 00:35:12,020
Atlantic sturgeon are the perfect
species to study to figure out what it
442
00:35:12,020 --> 00:35:14,440
take for an animal to survive in Loch
Ness.
443
00:35:18,980 --> 00:35:21,780
Atlantic sturgeon cover a massive range.
444
00:35:23,080 --> 00:35:27,840
While you can find them here in
Virginia, they're also one of the top
445
00:35:27,840 --> 00:35:30,940
predators in the North Sea near
Scotland.
446
00:35:32,280 --> 00:35:37,310
Just like the alleged descriptions of
the Loch Ness monster, they're big, They
447
00:35:37,310 --> 00:35:41,730
thrive in cold water, and they're among
the most mysterious and elusive hunters
448
00:35:41,730 --> 00:35:42,730
in our waterways.
449
00:35:44,810 --> 00:35:50,230
You could have a fish that's 12 feet
long swimming under you, and you'd never
450
00:35:50,230 --> 00:35:51,230
even know.
451
00:35:52,710 --> 00:35:57,390
Once common in this area, sturgeon
hadn't been seen in the James River in
452
00:35:57,390 --> 00:35:58,390
generations.
453
00:35:58,770 --> 00:36:03,870
But then, residents began spotting signs
of a mysterious marine creature in
454
00:36:03,870 --> 00:36:04,870
their midst.
455
00:36:05,800 --> 00:36:10,000
People were seeing these things with
just quick glances. And you're like,
456
00:36:10,120 --> 00:36:11,700
that was some kind of monster.
457
00:36:12,280 --> 00:36:14,480
And people's imaginations get rolling.
458
00:36:17,020 --> 00:36:19,620
My favorite was, oh, there's mutant
sharks.
459
00:36:24,240 --> 00:36:30,000
In 2007, Matt caught the first sturgeon
in the area in decades and
460
00:36:30,000 --> 00:36:33,020
finally identified the unknown creature.
461
00:36:33,640 --> 00:36:34,860
It was...
462
00:36:35,440 --> 00:36:37,220
Almost the equivalent of catching a
unicorn.
463
00:36:37,680 --> 00:36:44,560
It was an almost six -foot -long fish,
covered in armor, and just something
464
00:36:44,560 --> 00:36:46,480
you wouldn't even think existed anymore.
465
00:36:46,720 --> 00:36:50,220
And we had it right there in front of
us. There was no ifs, ands, or buts
466
00:36:50,220 --> 00:36:51,220
it. It was right there.
467
00:36:55,860 --> 00:37:00,760
Since then, Matt and his team have
caught and tagged more than 700
468
00:37:00,760 --> 00:37:05,020
sturgeons. using acoustic receivers to
track their migratory movements.
469
00:37:07,960 --> 00:37:09,140
So that's a fish.
470
00:37:09,960 --> 00:37:15,560
If he can catch one today, it could
provide critical new information to help
471
00:37:15,560 --> 00:37:17,840
identify the creature hiding in Loch
Ness.
472
00:37:18,200 --> 00:37:20,980
Oh, there's the bubbles. There's the
bubbles. He's getting ready to come up.
473
00:37:28,520 --> 00:37:33,320
As we continue to build our profile of
the Loch Ness Monster, we've zeroed in
474
00:37:33,320 --> 00:37:34,480
a compelling new theory.
475
00:37:36,920 --> 00:37:42,060
What if the creature is a migratory
animal with a range that stretches far
476
00:37:42,060 --> 00:37:43,140
beyond the loch?
477
00:37:45,840 --> 00:37:52,560
If that's the case, another large
migratory species, the Atlantic
478
00:37:52,560 --> 00:37:54,360
hold clues to Nessie's behavior.
479
00:37:58,690 --> 00:38:00,410
We're getting ready to pull in the first
net.
480
00:38:00,990 --> 00:38:04,010
There's the bubble. There's the bubble.
He's getting ready to come up. He's
481
00:38:04,010 --> 00:38:05,370
getting ready to come up. Yeah, he's
pulling.
482
00:38:06,170 --> 00:38:07,170
There he is.
483
00:38:10,310 --> 00:38:11,570
Okay, hold on.
484
00:38:12,390 --> 00:38:13,390
Yeah, he's pulling.
485
00:38:17,490 --> 00:38:18,670
All right, we're done.
486
00:38:21,250 --> 00:38:25,730
Despite this fish's impressive length,
it's only a medium -sized specimen.
487
00:38:26,890 --> 00:38:28,870
We're just going to measure it down the
length of its belly.
488
00:38:29,190 --> 00:38:30,190
Okay.
489
00:38:31,150 --> 00:38:37,490
This fish is just over 7 feet long, but
historically there are records of them
490
00:38:37,490 --> 00:38:42,630
twice as big as this, and there's
unofficial records of 18 feet long.
491
00:38:45,050 --> 00:38:48,090
These sturgeon also have incredible
lifespans.
492
00:38:48,410 --> 00:38:51,530
The biggest ones can live over 100
years.
493
00:38:52,650 --> 00:38:58,230
For our purposes, as we try to identify
the Loch Ness Monster, we need only ask
494
00:38:58,230 --> 00:38:59,230
one question.
495
00:38:59,870 --> 00:39:04,510
What does it take for a massive North
Sea predator like the sturgeon, and like
496
00:39:04,510 --> 00:39:07,170
Nessie, to survive for so long?
497
00:39:10,910 --> 00:39:16,330
One possible explanation is the
sturgeon's natural built -in armor
498
00:39:17,230 --> 00:39:19,850
This is the dorsal line of scoots right
here.
499
00:39:20,410 --> 00:39:24,210
These are actually bone. It's a form of
calcium phosphate, which is just like
500
00:39:24,210 --> 00:39:27,650
our bones. And it's actually wrapped all
around the fish. It's got them on the
501
00:39:27,650 --> 00:39:31,190
side and it has them on the belly. This
is pretty much a suit of armor all
502
00:39:31,190 --> 00:39:32,190
around it.
503
00:39:33,470 --> 00:39:38,170
These bony plates, called scutes, have
given the sturgeon the ability to
504
00:39:38,170 --> 00:39:43,670
outgrow, outlive, and outsurvive almost
every other species in the North Sea.
505
00:39:45,840 --> 00:39:48,080
They are some of the ultimate survivors.
506
00:39:48,440 --> 00:39:53,740
240 million years ago is the upper end
of when these fish started to come
507
00:39:53,740 --> 00:39:57,140
around. And these fish have persisted
that whole time.
508
00:39:57,680 --> 00:40:02,920
The fact that this fish here was dodging
dinosaurs, I think that's pretty
509
00:40:02,920 --> 00:40:03,920
awesome.
510
00:40:04,420 --> 00:40:09,260
According to Matt, armored plates much
like the sturgeon's could be a perfect
511
00:40:09,260 --> 00:40:13,480
explanation for one of Nessie's key
features as described by alleged
512
00:40:13,480 --> 00:40:14,480
eyewitnesses.
513
00:40:17,260 --> 00:40:22,820
A lot of the sightings in Loch Ness are
of, like, humps on the side.
514
00:40:23,720 --> 00:40:27,840
Those could potentially be scoots,
especially on a big sturgeon when the
515
00:40:27,840 --> 00:40:30,200
will be really big and the ridge will be
really tall.
516
00:40:34,720 --> 00:40:39,780
Is it possible that the Loch Ness
monster's famous humps along its back
517
00:40:39,780 --> 00:40:44,040
humps at all, but instead are a series
of bony armored plates?
518
00:40:45,290 --> 00:40:49,610
The Atlantic sturgeon may just have
provided an important clue in our
519
00:40:52,890 --> 00:40:58,110
And other members of the sturgeon family
tree could offer even more useful
520
00:40:58,110 --> 00:40:59,110
information.
521
00:41:00,590 --> 00:41:05,450
Atlantic sturgeon are really just bottom
feeders eating bugs, but there's a lot
522
00:41:05,450 --> 00:41:09,590
of other sturgeon species, like the
belugas and the white sturgeon, that
523
00:41:09,590 --> 00:41:12,370
actually do actively prey on fish.
524
00:41:12,590 --> 00:41:14,510
And those sturgeon actually get really
big.
525
00:41:15,500 --> 00:41:21,120
As you can see in this photo from 1903,
beluga sturgeon have been documented at
526
00:41:21,120 --> 00:41:22,420
nearly 30 feet long.
527
00:41:24,520 --> 00:41:29,820
Considering their massive size, body
shape, and ability to hide and survive
528
00:41:29,820 --> 00:41:35,200
cold, dark water, the sturgeon is one of
the closest species we can study to
529
00:41:35,200 --> 00:41:38,340
determine the behavior and appearance of
the Loch Ness Monster.
530
00:41:39,400 --> 00:41:44,240
Despite their 30 -foot length, beluga
sturgeon can freely move between
531
00:41:44,240 --> 00:41:47,160
freshwater and saltwater while hunting
their prey.
532
00:41:47,560 --> 00:41:52,340
And sturgeon have been found in both
Loch Ness and in Sweden.
533
00:41:56,460 --> 00:41:57,800
Is that our answer?
534
00:41:58,840 --> 00:42:01,960
Could the monster simply be an overgrown
sturgeon?
535
00:42:02,720 --> 00:42:08,180
As we're about to find out, the mystery
is still far from being solved.
536
00:42:11,470 --> 00:42:16,590
Next time, there's a chance we've had
physical evidence of the Loch Ness
537
00:42:16,590 --> 00:42:17,590
for centuries.
538
00:42:18,130 --> 00:42:19,130
Go!
539
00:42:19,930 --> 00:42:25,370
And if that's the case, then we may know
exactly where to look for our own
540
00:42:25,370 --> 00:42:26,750
encounter with the beast.
48193
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get subtitles in any language from opensubtitles.com, and translate them here.