Igopogo

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Igopogo
Igopogo.jpg
Photograph of Igopogo, taken by an observer in 1976.
Creature information
Other name(s)Kempenfelt Kelly, Beaverton Bessie, Simcoe Kelly [1]
Sub grouping Lake monster
Origin
Country Canada
Region Lake Simcoe, Ontario
DetailsFound in water

In Canadian folklore, the Igopogo is a mythical creature said to dwell in Lake Simcoe, Ontario. [1] The creature's name is ostensibly based on the Ogopogo, of Lake Okanagan, British Columbia, and also the title of the 1952 book I Go Pogo , a slogan often mentioned in the comic. [2] Other nicknames for the Igopogo include Beaverton Bessie, after Beaverton, Ontario, and "Kempenfelt Kelly" after the bay that extends from the lake into the city of Barrie, Ontario. [3] The city of Barrie erected The Sea Serpent sculpture, representing the legendary Igopogo, at the waterfront. [4]

Contents

Alleged sightings

David Soules, an early settler, is credited with the first alleged Igopogo sighting in 1823. While tending sheep, Soules reportedly saw a long creature leaving a wake in the water and a trail in the mud. Another major sighting took place in 1952 by four witnesses including Wellington Charles, chief of the Georgina Island First Nation. [1] In 1983, sonar operator William W. Skrypetz reported spotting a large animal with a long neck, [1] although some have disputed this account, claiming the reading could have instead been a school of fish. [3] The Globe and Mail also told of Charles, who worked as a local fishing guide. [5] Charles described seeing a marine animal with "a neck like a stovepipe with a face like a boxer dog." [5]

Other alleged sightings include reports in 1903 and 1906, and a 1991 video recording of "a large, seal-like animal." [3] In 1952, David Luu reported to the Globe and Mail seeing a "huge gray thing", that "leaped" while boating on the lake. [5] In 2016 John Kirk of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club claimed on The Shirley Show to have a tape of the creature, though he did not show it. [2] E. J. Delaney described it as a creature with two long antennae, four octopus-like arms, three pairs of legs, and six gill-like appendages with feathers. [1]

Proposed explanations

Some writers have speculated based on this appearance that the sightings were actually of pinnipeds, such as otters or seals. [1] [3]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 R. Fee, Christopher; B. Webb, Jeffrey (August 29, 2016). American myths, legends, and tall tales : an encyclopedia of American folklore. ABC-CLIO. p. 500. ISBN   978-1610695688.
  2. 1 2 Urquhart, Rod. "Lake Simcoe's Own Monster". Lake Simcoe Living. Archived from the original on 27 September 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Nickell, Joe (14 October 2005). "Investigators Search for Canadian Lake Monster". Live Science. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  4. ↑ Sgambati, Sue (2016-06-29). "Enchanting Sea Serpent lands at Barrie waterfront". BarrieToday.com. Archived from the original on 2024-09-23. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  5. 1 2 3 "Igopogo, Simcoe Monster, Reported Sighted Again". Globe and Mail . 1963-07-01. Archived from the original on 2025-09-24.
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