There have been numerous sightings of an animal in Okanagan Lake, a huge animal which local residents refer to as ”ogopogo”. Most of these sightings are consistent and reliable, made by people who are highly respected. There is every reason to believe that the animal exists. Now the problem is one of proving it.
First a little background is in order. It is the scientific opinion that many millions of years ago, there were an additional four orders of swimming reptiles in the world. Within each order, there were likely dozens of species. These orders were that of ichthyosaur, mosasaur, long necked plesiosaur and short necked plesiosaur. Then around 80 million years ago, or mya for short, the ichthyosaurs went extinct, due to competition from other ”super predators”, possibly mosasaurs. It is further the scientific opinion that the other three orders of swimming reptile went extinct 65 million years ago, at the same time the dinosaurs went extinct. No reason is given for the mass extinctions of these swimming reptiles.
It is my opinion that the scientists are ”all wet”, if you will excuse the poor joke. I am convinced that these four orders of swimming reptiles still exist, predators one and all, in the lakes and oceans of the world.
For the benefit of those readers who are not scientists, I will mention that an ”order” is a reference to a group of species of animals which are quite similar. For example, there is an order of crocodiles, and that order includes twenty three species. By contrast, within the order of turtles, there are possibly one hundred species. Both crocodiles and turtles are swimming reptiles, but the difference is that turtles can tolerate a great deal of cold, while crocodiles can not. Hence the great many species of turtle, as compared to the relatively few species of crocodile.
To return to the animal in Okanagan Lake, the most reliable eye witness reports are that it swims like a mammal, not a reptile. They mention this because they are well aware that reptiles swim in an undulating manner, while mammals swim in a completely different manner. I believe them. They also report that this animal has ”humps” on its back, which go up and down as it swims. This too I believe. Making sense of these reports is a different matter entirely.
Perhaps the most surprising report was that of the swimmer who found himself swimming with company! A huge animal was swimming right along side of him! As it was so close, it was difficult not to notice the huge eyes on the animal, eyes the size of grapefruits!
It is details such as this which help to determine the identity of the animal. The one and only swimming reptile with such huge eyes, possibly 25 centimetres or 10 inches, is the ichthyosaur.
This called for a little investigation on my part, in an attempt to reconcile the behaviour. The swimming motion of this animal is that of a mammal, and to swim alongside a human is also characteristic of a mammal, and in particular that of a dolphin. No reptile has been known to exhibit such behaviour. Yet the ichthyosaur is classified as a reptile.
Strangely enough, even though it is a reptile, the fossilized remains of the ichthyosaur confirm that this animal gives birth to live young. It is characteristic of reptiles that they lay eggs, although rattle snakes are the exception, giving birth to live young. Apparently these ichthyosaurs are also the exception.
It is also the scientific opinion that this animal is related to dolphins. I have no idea how they came to that conclusion, but I am sure they are right. As far as I am aware, dolphins are the only swimming animals which have been known to swim along side people. At least, up until now. Something is swimming along side people in Okanagan Lake, and it is not a dolphin.
The idea that a reptile, a super predator no less, would choose to swim along side a human, is stranger than fiction.
Further investigation reveals that the latest scientific discoveries question the belief that the ichthyosaur is a cold blooded animal. If it is indeed a warm blooded animal -and that has yet to be proven- one which gives birth to live young, then it may be improperly classified. It may be a RINO, a Reptile In Name Only. It may in fact be a mammal, and that would explain its mammalian behaviour.
This is not to say that I am terribly concerned with the classification of the animal. It can be a reptile with mammalian characteristics, or it can be a mammal with reptilian characteristics. It is a subject upon which I am indifferent. No doubt the proper classification is important, but I am mainly concerned with proving the existence of the animal.
Ordinarily I would say that the best way to prove the existence of a swimming reptile is by locating its nesting site, the beach upon which it lays its eggs. But this is anything but ordinary, as it gives birth to live young. There is no point in looking for the beach where it lays its eggs, because that beach does not exist. Clearly, it is necessary to come up with a different plan.
The people who have seen these animals are of the opinion that they are most frequently seen in the spring, at certain locations. Possibly the males come to the surface and display, in an attempt to impress the females. Who can blame them?
Assuming that to be the case, may I suggest that those who live around Okanagan Lake keep an eye out for these animals, and hopefully git some pictures, preferably videos, of those animals cavorting in the water. There was a time when an animal had to be killed, in order to prove the species exists. I would like to prove to the scientists that this animal exists, without resorting to such drastic measures.
Then again, such a course of action may not be feasible. The scientists may merely dismiss any and all videos out of hand. It is possible the animal comes out of the water on occasion, and if that is the case, it may be possible to obtain some DNA. I cannot think of any reason the animal would come out of the water, but that does not mean it does not happen.
This is not to say that a combination of videos and DNA would necessarily persuade the scientists of the existence of this animal, as they are determined that it went extinct many millions of years ago.
This brings us back to the one sure fire way to prove the animal exists, the ”old school” method of shooting an animal to prove the species exists. If the scientists persist in being completely pig headed, we may have to resort to such a drastic method. A carcass of the animal will certainly get their attention.
I suspect there is no other way to prove the existence of the ichthyosaur.
Gerald McIsaac Science Project 