LONDON. Using drones and webcams, a group of volunteer investigators has joined a fresh search for the legendary Loch Ness Monster in Scotland. The Loch Ness Center revealed that researchers planned to employ thermal-imaging drones, infrared cameras, and a hydrophone to detect underwater sounds in the lake’s murky depths, aiming to find evidence of Nessie. This two-day endeavor is being promoted as the most extensive lake survey in half a century, with participants from around the globe remotely observing the waters through webcams.
Alan McKenna, representing the Loch Ness Center, expressed the desire to “ignite the enthusiasm of a new generation of Loch Ness enthusiasts.” In an interview with BBC radio, McKenna explained that the team was scouting for any disturbances on the lake’s surface and urging volunteers to document various natural behaviors in the vicinity of the Loch.
He emphasized, “Not every ripple or wave indicates a creature. Some can be explained, but there are a few that cannot.” The Loch Ness Center operates from the former Drumnadrochit Hotel, the place where the modern-day legend of Nessie emerged. In 1933, the hotel’s manager, Aldie Mackay, claimed to have seen a “water beast” in the lake, which is the largest freshwater body in the UK by volume and one of the deepest at up to 750 feet (230 meters).
This report sparked a global fascination with the elusive monster, resulting in hoaxes and numerous eyewitness testimonies. Various theories have arisen over time, suggesting the creature could be a prehistoric marine reptile, oversized eels, a sturgeon, or even an escaped circus elephant. While some dismiss the sightings as tricks or explainable phenomena like floating logs or strong winds, the legend remains a tourism draw for the scenic Scottish Highlands.
Despite skepticism, volunteers like Craig Gallifrey remain committed to the quest. “I do believe there’s something in the lake,” he noted, while remaining open-minded about its nature. Gallifrey acknowledged that regardless of the outcome of the weekend search, the legend will persist. He speculated, “I think it’s the idea of something residing in the UK’s largest body of water… There are plenty more stories. There’s an aura about the lake that’s still very special.”
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
