SEP 1980
MONSTER HUNT TO BE MOUNTED
MELBOURNE: An expert on sea monsters is convinced the prehistoric plesiosaurus, or a near relative, exists in Australian waters. Rex Gilroy, a museum curator and archeology enthusiast of Katoomba intends to mount an expedition next year to hunt the creature off western Victoria.
Mr Gilroy, 36, director of the Mount York Natural History Museum said yesterday the plesiosaurus and other sea creatures believed to be extinct was "definitely alive and living in colonies around the Australian coastline."
He said the creatures were in Bass Strait waters and along the southwest of NSW. Mr Gilroy said he did not want to see "these great creatures killed off."
The expedition to Warrnambool was based on numerous plesiosaurus sightings over the years, the latest being two years ago when a group of people claimed to have seen the creature offshore, he said. "They said it had a dark, scaly serpentine neck, a snake-like head about the size of two footballs and two humps.
"Trawler fishermen have also reported see ing the plesiosaurus which they believed to be about 18 metre long," Mr Gilroy said.
|