On the trail with two Swiss monster hunters

What do an orphan from Lucerne and a geologist from Western Switzerland have in common? A fascination with mysterious creatures. René Dahinden and François de Loys both made a name for themselves in the field of cryptozoology. Creatures like the Yeti in the Himalayas, the Loch Ness Monster in Scotland and Bigfoot in North America have long held a fascination for us humans. Despite scepticism among the scientific community, enthusiasts the world over have devoted themselves to the study of these ‘hidden animals’, commonly referred to as cryptozoology. Swissinfo regularly publishes articles from the Swiss National Museum’s blog dedicated to historical topics. The articles are always written in German, usually also in French and English. A few Swiss have been involved in the search for mythical beasts, making their mark in a field often branded as pseudoscience by uncovering evidence that gained both fame and notoriety. One of the most famous was Lucerne-born René Dahinden, who set ...