Part 1
Although we build a speculative framework for the existence of a long necked pinniped, one of the more unexpected findings of our research, whilst writing The Seal Serpent, was the fact that over the last hundred years or so, at least a dozen sea lions escaped or were deliberately released from captivity in Europe and the UK.
Since the late 19th century, California and Steller sea lions among other species were exhibited in scientific collections, zoos, menageries, circuses and of course for showmanship, some even being kept as pets.
Sea lion catching hats: Strobridge Litho. Co., 1900 (Library of Congress)
It was inevitable that some would escape or would be released prior to and during both World Wars as a result of conscription, austerity and rationing when owners were called up to fight for their country or there was just not enough food to sustain their voracious appetites. Unlike other exotic species such as big cats which could not be safely released, a sea lion could be dumped in any stretch of water and left to fend for itself.
So why is this significant?
Pinnipeds have been commonly proposed as identities for some lake monsters and indeed there are many accounts of them swimming into rivers, taking advantage of spawning fish and getting into lakes where they could be mistaken for a monster. However in Europe and the UK the indigenous pinniped species are the grey seal and the common or harbour seal, both members of the true seals or phocidae. Other phocids such as the hooded seal, bearded seal and ringed seal, normally arctic species, have all been documented from around the shores of Europe. True seals however have a specific morphology; they tend to be large and torpedo shaped and cannot use their hind flippers for movement on land, although this does not stop them from negotiating difficult obstacles.
Grey seal (Rose Hugget)
But sea lions are different.
As members of the eared seals or otariidae, they have a much sleeker shape, horn like ears, a distinctive neck and are able to use their hind-flippers for sustained, movement on land.
Lucy the sea lion at Oregan Zoo (Greg Goebel)
Wikimedia Commons
A California sea lion may also reach a length of 8ft and have a head height of 5ft, while species such as the Steller sea lion may attain a length of 10ft.
Steller Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus) on exhibit at the Oregon Zoo EncMstr
So imagine if you will, either animal emerging from a lake in the middle of the night, bounding across a road in front of a surprised or frightened witness. Given the impact that Loch Ness has had on people’s perception of lake monsters it would be fairly easy to conclude that you had seen some sort of prehistoric reptile, especially as the animal would not look like an indigenous species.
Arthur Grants sighting at Loch Ness (Modern Mechanix) Wikimedia Commons
This previously unexplored theory for some lake monster origins in Europe is documented extensively in our book The Seal Serpent.
A California sea lion rears its head at the approach of visitors on the trail at Grandma's Cove (Lucas Pellant, National Park Service USA)
A performing sea lion has been picked by a trawler on the north coast of the Outer Hebrides. It is thought it must have escaped from a ship while travelling with a menagerie.
Diss Express - Friday 02 June 1939
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