Richard Freeman
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| Cryptozoologist | |
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| Richard Freeman November 2006 | |
| Biography | |
| Name: | Richard Freeman |
| Born: | 1970 Nuneaton, England |
| Resume | |
| Field: | Author Journalist Lecturer |
| Paranormal Area: | Cryptozoologist |
| Affiliates: | Centre for Fortean Zoology |
Richard Freeman (born Nuneaton, England, in 1970) is a cryptozoologist, author, zoological journalist, and WebTV Presenter. he is also the zoological director of the Centre for Fortean Zoology (CFZ), and co-edits both the journal Animals & Men and several editions of the annual CFZ Yearbook. He has written, co-written, or edited a number of books. He has written widely for both fortean and zoological magazines, as well as other newspapers and periodicals.[1][2]
When interviewed by author Nick Redfern in 2005[3] he claims that an early obsession with the classic SciFi series Doctor Who, with Jon Pertwee in the title role, sparked an interest in him, in all things weird.
After school he became a zookeeper at Twycross Zoo in the West Midlands and became head keeper of reptiles. He worked with over 400 exotic species from ants to elephants but had a special interest in crocodilians. He left the zoo a few years later through a violent dislike of the management and their attitude to both animals and keepers. He then worked in an exotic pet shop, a reptile rescue centre, and as a gravedigger.
In 1995 he went to Leeds University to study zoology. It was whilst he was on a summer holiday from the university that he first heard of the CFZ. Upon buying a copy of the Centre’s journal Animals & Men he was impressed enough to subscribe and begin writing for the publication. Subsequently he became the Yorkshire representative of the CFZ.
After the course had ended he left Leeds and moved down to Devon to become a full time member of the CFZ. He is now the Zoological Director and co-editor of their journal.
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[edit] Bibliography
- Weird Devon (Bossiney, Padstow, 1999) with Jonathan Downes and Graham Inglis
- CFZ Yearbook 1999 (CFZ, Exeter, 1999)
- CFZ Yearbook 2000/1 (CFZ, Exeter, 2001)
- CFZ Yearbook 2002 (CFZ, Exeter, 2002)
- CFZ Yearbook 2003 (CFZ, Exeter, 2003)
- Dragons: More than a myth? (CFZ, Bideford, 2005)
- Explore Dragons (Heart of Albion, Loughborough, 2006)
- CFZ Expedition Report: Gambia 2006 (CFZ, Bideford, 2006) with Lisa Dowley, Oll Lewis, Chris Moiser, Chris Clark, Suzi Marsh
- CFZ Expedition Report: Guyana 2007 (CFZ, Bideford, 2008) with Lisa Dowley, Paul Rose, Chris Clark, Jon Hare
[edit] Cryptozoological expeditions
- Thailand in 2000 to look for a species of giant crested snake known as the naga.
- Sumatra in 2003 to search for the upright walking ape orang-pendek.
- Sumatra in 2004 again to look for the orang-pendek.
- Mongolia in 2005 on the track of the deathworm.
- The Gambia in 2006 to search for a dragon like beast known as ninki-nanka.
- Guyana in 2007 searching for giant anaconda, di-di (a yeti like homonid), the water tiger (a spotted semi-aquatic, flesh eating mammal), and the bushmen, an unrecorded race of three foot pigmies with red faces. He also heard of what may be a tiny, new species of caiman with a red strip running along its back.
[edit] Species Hunted
- The Monster of Martin Mere, an 8 foot, swan-eating catfish in Lancashire.
- The Loch Ness Monster
- The Monster of Loch Morar
- The Monster of Windermere in the Lake District
Richard has published two books, Dragons: More Than a Myth? From CFZ Press and Explore Dragons from Heart of Albion Press. As well as writing for Animals & Men he is a regular contributor to Fortean Times.
Richard has made numerous television appearances.[citation needed] He lectures in England on strange beasts at events including the Fortean Times Unconvention and the CFZ’s Weird Weekend, as well as Microcon at the University of Exeter.
[edit] References
- ^ Downes J., Monster Hunter (CFZ Press, Exeter, 2004)
- ^ CFZ website www.cfz.org.uk
- ^ Nick Redfern's "There's Something in the Woods..."
- BBC news report, The Center for Fortean Zoology Gambia expedition 2006
- UK Metro newspaper interview
- Mongabay report, the Center for Fortean Zoology Mongolia expedition 2005
- Fortean Times article, 'In Search of Orang-pendek' Sumatra Expedition report
- BBC report, Martin Mere, 2002
