The Loch Ness Monster theory ...

[Tracked]

I'm sure everyone's been waiting for this:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-49495145

A team of scientists are to reveal the "plausible theory" they have identified for sightings of Nessie.

Research led by a New Zealand university has sought to catalogue all living life in Loch Ness by analysing DNA collected from water samples.

Last month, the team said it had a biological explanation for the Loch Ness Monster.

This along with other findings from the study are to be announced at an event in Drumnadrochit later on Thursday.

More than 200 water samples were taken at various depths throughout the loch last year, collecting all forms of environmental DNA (eDNA) for further analysis.

The eDNA was extracted and sequenced, resulting in about 500 million sequences and these were checked against existing databases.

The work led by New Zealand's University of Otago was done to record all current life in Loch Ness, including plants, insects, fish and mammals.

If it doesn't involve several glasses of Whisky and an otter I'm going to be disappointed.

 

[Bantamzen]

Something else. Its Boris Johnson....

 

[Howardh]

Something else. Its Boris Johnson....

Rees-Mogg having a swim?

 

[GusB]

Rees-Mogg having a swim?

Well he is a somewhat slippery character...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-49495145

Loch Ness Monster may be a giant eel, say scientists

The creatures behind repeated sightings of the fabled Loch Ness Monster may be giant eels, according to scientists.

Researchers from New Zealand have tried to catalogue all living species in the loch by extracting DNA from water samples.

Following analysis, the scientists have ruled out the presence of large animals said to be behind reports of a monster.

No evidence of a prehistoric marine reptile called a plesiosaur or a large fish such as a sturgeon were found.

Catfish and suggestions that a wandering Greenland shark were behind the sightings were also discounted.

 

[Journeyman]

Had to smile at the options available there.

I really can't believe the world's brightest brains are trying to puzzle out what was obviously an attempt to get more tourists to visit the area.

 

[Howardh]

Had to smile at the options available there.

I really can't believe the world's brightest brains are trying to puzzle out what was obviously an attempt to get more tourists to visit the area.

And yet the locals have been complaining that there are too many tourists blocking the roads. Think it's mainly the highland coastal roads which were on some kind of "guide" - anyone confirm??

 

[Journeyman]

And yet the locals have been complaining that there are too many tourists blocking the roads. Think it's mainly the highland coastal roads which were on some kind of "guide" - anyone confirm??

Scotland as a whole is suffering from an absolutely chronic over-tourism problem these days, which is at its worst in the Highlands and Edinburgh. The remote bits of the Far North are now very popular because of the North Coast 500 thing, and the single-track roads are struggling to cope.

I'm tending to avoid the Highlands these days, and doing my hiking in the Borders at the moment, which are currently much less busy.

 

[GusB]

And yet the locals have been complaining that there are too many tourists blocking the roads. Think it's mainly the highland coastal roads which were on some kind of "guide" - anyone confirm??

There have been some concerns about the behaviour of some tourists on the North Coast 500 route - speeding and not knowing how to drive on single-track roads, for example, but I imagine that most locals would accept that tourism is necessary for the income that it brings to the local economy.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-49523951

NC500 patrol stops teen twice in an hour for speeding
A teenager was stopped twice for speeding in the space of an hour during a police crackdown on driving offences on the North Coast 500 scenic route.

The 19-year-old was reported for driving at 55mph in a 30mph zone before he was stopped by the same officers for speeding at another location.

The incidents were among 41 offences detected by police patrols on the Highlands' NC500 this week.

A further 118 drivers were given warnings about their driving.

Many of the offences detected were for speeding. Others included careless driving, using a mobile phone, failing to wear a seat belt and having no insurance.

Tuesday and Thursday's patrols were carried out along the A9, A99 A835, A836 and the A838 in Caithness and Sutherland.

The NC500 is a popular tourist route involving roads around the north, east and west coasts of the Highlands, with many journeys around it often starting and finishing in Inverness.

'Disappointing large number'
Road policing sergeant Gus Murray said: "Despite it being later in the summer season, the NC500 continues to attract a large number of visitors and local communities continue to raise concerns with about the manner of driving on the route.

"A large number of the drivers stopped were not used to driving on single track roads and advice was given regarding not holding up following traffic.

"We also distributed Driving in Scotland leaflets and wrist bands to the foreign drivers stopped, they all appeared to appreciate the advice given to them."

He added: "Disappointingly a large number of offences were detected while carrying out enforcement work on the route."

 

[Tracked]

In fairness to the eel theory they say that DNA from "humans, dogs, sheep, cattle, deer, badgers, rabbits, voles and birds" as well as eels was also found, therefore it's obvious that the Loch Ness Monster is a Badger Riding a swimming deer ...