We were recently contacted by reptile park owner Dustin Welbourne, who will be giving a talk to the Canberra Skeptics on what he calls the ‘crypto continuum’, and the evidence, or lack of evidence for unlikely organisms.
His talk will range from unusual animal behaviour on one end of the continuum, – behaviour or traits that haven’t really been observed scientifically but often claimed i.e. snakes chasing people – through to the seemingly evolutionarily implausible i.e. such “beasts” as the chupacabra, Pegasus, and some crypto-botanical examples.
Dustin was particularly keen to get some background information about big cat sightings in Australia, given he stumbled upon his own interesting print during a visit to Katoomba in the Blue Mountains of NSW (see the picture above).
Dustin is completing a Masters in Science Communication through the ANU, and expects to begin a PhD on invasive organisms at ADFA this year. He is director of the Canberra Reptile Sanctuary and has a keen interest in evolutionary ecology, invasive alien reptiles, anthropogenic impacts.
If you're in Canberra, pop in! Dinner will follow the lecture (venue tbc). To RSVP for dinner please contact mail@canberraskeptics.org.au
For further information, please visit the Canberra Skeptics website: http://www.canberraskeptics.org.au
