Adding to the concerns, 2009 also saw a documentary examining the possibility that the monster might be extinct.

Gary Campbell, president of the Official Loch Ness Monster Fan Club, acknowledged there were reasons to be fearful for Nessie's future.

"Ten years ago we had a lot of good sightings, but in the last two or three years, they have tailed off," he said.

Only one sighting, made just out from the Clansman Hotel on 6th June, was judged by him to have been a credible report.

"What we regard as a dependable sighting is very much down to the person who sees it," Mr Campbell explained. "This was a local chap who knows the things that Nessie isn't - boat wakes, debris on the loch or seals in the summer. A local person will know what these things look like."

However, such reports are increasingly rare.

"That's why were so relieved to have heard about this sighting," Mr Campbell continued. "In June, when it was reported, nobody had seen anything for a year. If it hadn't been for that one, we would have been really, really worried."

Such worries have not been eased by the documentary series "MonsterQuest". For the start of its third run on the History Channel in February, the episode "Death at Loch Ness," looked at the theory that the Loch Ness Monster(s) might be extinct.

"If people start to believe that, it might start to affect tourist numbers," Mr Campbell acknowledged. "Whether you believe in Nessie or not, the Loch Ness Monster is one of the most important tourist attractions we have."

However, there were a number of more dubious sightings over the course of 2009. These included a sonar contact witnessed by "'Allo,'Allo" star Vicki Michelle and other cast members from the stage version of the popular BBC sit-com when they took a pleasure cruise on Loch Ness in May during the play's week-long run at Eden Court.

Their boat, the Jacobite Queen, picked up five mysterious arch shapes on its sonar between Dores and Urquhart Castle.

Also claiming a possible Nessie picture was data analyst Ian Monckton from Solihull who used his car headlights and the flash from his camera, to take a picture of what he thought could be the elusive monster while driving to Invermoriston late at night.

Despite the gloomy prognosis for Nessie, Mr Campbell hopes new witnesses might come forward.

Promising all reports would be treated confidentially, he acknowledged: "There is an embarrassment factor to seeing Nessie. The first thing people say to you is: 'Did you have a drink?'."

Perhaps, though, the answers are to be found underwater instead of on the loch's surface.

"Unknown sonar contacts happen all the time," he said. "Maybe Nessie is just keeping her head down."

Printer friendly version

Email this article to a friend

Bookmark this

---