001 - UN: Dr. A. Price

[cryptoherpetology]

Hello, my name is Alex Price, I'm a zoologist specializing in herpetology. I normally run the reptile house at the Columbus Zoo.

I am also a cryptozoologist, which apparently I can say here without worrying about the order of religious zealots hunting my family killing me in terrible ways, so yay?

If anyone's domesticated any of the local wildlife, I'd really love a chance to see them up close.

Comments

un: vanille

[tosavecocoon]

i have five you can look at!

[ four of one species and one of another, but... it's still five. ]

[cryptoherpetology]

Excellent. I can come to you, if you like, whenever it's convenient.

[tosavecocoon]

anytime you want. ill be outside. probably.

[cryptoherpetology]

You'll have to forgive me, I'm still new enough to just barely know my way around at this point. I'm afraid I'll need some more specific directions.

What types of animals do you have, by the way?

[tosavecocoon]

um... i live down the road from the blacksmith. youll be able to see my herd easily outside. four purple llamas and a reptile-dog.

[ who knows what their species are called anyway ]

[cryptoherpetology]

Excellent! I'll drop by as soon as I can. I'll be the one in black scrubs and glasses trying to pet your llamas.

un; Kat

[mediumhoodie]

I have some information. I have been writing notes about the animals I've run into here. There are crocodile dogs, antelope dogs, pink alpaca's and a few other odd creatures I have never seen before.

[cryptoherpetology]

Oh, that's excellent. Would you be willing to share your notes? The crocodile dogs are particularly interesting.

[mediumhoodie]

Of course. You can't keep them because I have no copies but we can go over them together.
The crocodile dogs are very friendly and sweet.

[cryptoherpetology]

Wouldn't dream of asking to.

Have you noticed if anything seems to prey on the crocodile dogs? I've only seen that sort of temperament in species that evolved with no natural predators.

[mediumhoodie]

I haven't found anything but we could take a hike further down the river. I believe that's where their home is but I haven't had the time to see for myself.

[cryptoherpetology]

I've noticed a few people keeping them as pets- has there been any attempt at captive breeding or husbandry? With them or any of the native species.

UN: Barnes

[freightcars]

I know what zoology is
What the hell is cryptozoology?

[cryptoherpetology]

Everything zoology is, only for species that mainstream science might not necessarily acknowledge the existence of.

It's a bit of a family tradition.

[freightcars]

Let me make sure I'm getting this right
No offense, but
You're saying your family tradition is studying, what, Bigfoot?

[cryptoherpetology]

Not sasquatch exclusively, but my sister did sub-let an apartment from one for year or so. Usually lovely people who just happen to spend a lot more on depilatory treatments than most.

[freightcars]

Your sister
sublet an apartment
from
sasquatch

She from Jersey? Sounds like Jersey.

[cryptoherpetology]

This was in Manhattan, but we grew up near Portland.

Believe me, it sounds way more like Portland than it does Jersey.

[notsoangry]

Welcome, Alex. I'm Bruce Banner.

[cryptoherpetology]

Thank you, Mr. Banner. Hopefully my earlier conversations don't have you thinking I'm a lunatic.

un: agent

[womanofvalue]

Seeing as a board only recently tried to gore me, I'm not precisely too fond of the local wildlife.

Are you really so sure you want to be trying to tame it?

[cryptoherpetology]

Not tame them, but I would like to study as much as I can. The more we know about how the animals here survive, the better we can understand the environment and how to better adapt ourselves to survival here.

[womanofvalue]

How do you figure?

Obviously, we might need them for survival from an eating capacity, not to mention them being useful, but do you really think there's something to unlock in them?

[cryptoherpetology]

Humans most likely learned to tap maple trees for syrup by watching squirrels feeding on the tree sap. We probably also figured out that there was something worth going into beehives for by watching bears do it first. There's an interesting story about goats and the discovery of coffee, as well.

The animals who've adapted to living here may very well instinctively know things that we'll need to learn through observation.

[womanofvalue]

What I'm hearing here is that you want to find food and you think the local animals might lead us to it? Or are maple syrup and honey simply two of the examples that we're starting with?

There are some animals who don't want to be watched, I think. At least, not judging from how they've reacted.