On the Track of Unknown Animals, Bernard Heuvelmans, Hill and Wang, New York, 1959. "On the Track of Unknown Animals" is a book by Bernard Heuvelmans, the Belgian-French zoologist, explorer and researcher, mostly recognized as a founding figure in cryptozoology, a branch of science which explores the existence of animals that haven't been officially documented or verified by mainstream science. It was first published in 1955 under the title "Sur la Piste des Bêtes Ignorées" and it's considered a pioneering work in the field of cryptozoology. The book examines various reports and stories of unknown creatures from around the world, including legendary beasts like the yeti, the sea serpent and the apre-man, as well as lesser-known animals reported by local communities. Heuvelmans, while fascinated by these accounts, takes a critical and scientific approach and was one of the first to apply rigorous methods to the study of cryptozoology. He analyzes the evidence available, compares it to documented animals, and explores the possibility of misidentification or folklore influencing the reports. The book played a significant role in popularizing cryptozoology and sparking public interest in the potential existence of undiscovered animals. It also influenced other cryptozoologists and researchers to delve deeper into the subject. While the book doesn't offer definitive proof of any unknown animals, however, it does show that there are many gaps in our scientific knowledge of the animal kingdom and that it is possible that there are still animals and creatures undiscovered by science in the deep sea or dense jungles and unexplored caves. It also sheds light on the cultural significance of these stories and encourages a critical exploration of the unknown in the natural world. 558 pages. Many illustrations, photos, maps and plates. Binding is tight and all pages, illustrations and maps are present. Pages are bright and clear, no markings and some foxing limited to the first pages. The dust jacket is present with some tears on top of spine and front page. Book in very good conditions. PS: I'll ship the book carefully packaged in bubble wrap, via An Post, the Irish Postal Service ("Registered Post, Tracking, Insurance included to protect your valuable items"). I will provide the tracking number once dispatched. Thanks for visiting this page!