r. arl . . huker

iography

Dr Karl P.N. Shuker Holding Cast of Dinosaur Footprint

Dr. Karl P.N. Shuker BSc PhD FRES FZS is a zoologist who is internationally recognised as a world expert in cryptozoology (the scientific investigation of mystery animals whose existence or identity has yet to be formally ascertained), as well as in animal mythology and allied subjects relating to wildlife anomalies and inexplicabilia. He obtained a BSc (Honours) degree in pure zoology at the University of Leeds (U.K.), and a PhD in zoology and comparative physiology at the University of Birmingham (U.K.). He is now a freelance zoological consultant and writer, living in the West Midlands, England.

Dr. Shuker is the author of numerous cryptozoological articles, and several books. His books are: Mystery Cats of the World: From Blue Tigers to Exmoor Beasts (Robert Hale: London, 1989), Extraordinary Animals Worldwide (Robert Hale: London, 1991), The Lost Ark: New and Rediscovered Animals of the 20th Century (HarperCollins: London, 1993), Dragons: A Natural History (Aurum Press: London/Simon & Schuster: New York, 1995), In Search of Prehistoric Survivors: Do Giant 'Extinct' Creatures Still Exist? (Blandford Press: London, 1995), The Unexplained: An Illustrated Guide to the World's Natural and Paranormal Mysteries (Carlton Books: London/JG Press: North Dighton, 1996), From Flying Toads To Snakes With Wings (Llewellyn Publications: St Paul, Minnesota, 1997), Mysteries of Planet Earth: An Encyclopedia of the Inexplicable (Carlton Books: London, 1999), The Hidden Powers of Animals: Uncovering the Secrets of Nature (Reader's Digest: Pleasantville/Marshall Editions: London, 2001), The New Zoo: New and Rediscovered Animals of the Twentieth Century (House of Stratus Ltd: Thirsk, UK/House of Stratus Inc: Poughkeepsie, USA, 2002) [fully-updated, greatly-expanded, brand-new edition of The Lost Ark], The Beasts That Hide From Man: Seeking the World's Last Undiscovered Animals (Paraview Press: New York, 2003), and Extraordinary Animals Revisited: From Singing Dogs To Serpent Kings (CFZ Press: Bideford, 2007) [fully-updated, greatly-expanded, brand-new edition of Extraordinary Animals Worldwide].

Dr. Shuker has acted jointly as consultant and major contributor to three multi-author volumes dealing with cryptozoology and other mysterious phenomena. These are: Man and Beast (Reader's Digest: Pleasantville, New York, 1993), Secrets of the Natural World (Reader's Digest: Pleasantville, New York, 1993), and Almanac of the Uncanny (Reader's Digest: Surry Hills, Australia, 1995). He continues to act as the zoological consultant to The Guinness Book of Records/Guinness World Records (Guinness: London, 1997-present day), and also acted as consultant to Monsters (Lorenz Books: London, 2001), as well as a contributor to Mysteries of the Deep (Llewellyn: St Paul, 1998), Guinness Amazing Future (Guinness: London, 1999), The Earth (Channel 4 Books: London, 2000), and Chambers Dictionary of the Unexplained (Chambers: London, 2007). In addition, staying abreast of information technology, Dr. Shuker has contributed to, and features in, Of Monsters and Miracles (Croydon Museum Services & Interactive Designs Ltd: Oxton, 1995), a multi-contributor CD ROM providing an interactive voyage through the fascinating realm of mysteries and the unexplained.

Aside from books, Dr. Shuker acts as a Contributing Editor and cryptozoological columnist for Strange Magazine, and is a longstanding contributor to FATE Magazine, both published in the U.S.A. In the U.K., he is a Special Correspondent for, and also has two cryptozoological columns in, Fortean Times. Over the years, he has contributed to a vast range of other publications too, including All About Cats, Cat World, All About Dogs, Wild About Animals, Animals Animals Animals, BBC Wildlife, The Biologist, History For All, Goblin Universe, Fortean Studies, CFZ Yearbook, Sightings, Western Morning News, Prediction, The Unknown, Uri Geller's Encounters, Alien Encounters, Me Magazine, Avicultural Magazine, World Pheasant Association News, Animals and Men cryptozoology journal, ISC Cryptozoology Newsletter, Jack Magazine, Bizarre, Bike Magazine, Athene, Scan, The X Factor, and, most recently, Beyond.

Dr. Shuker appears regularly on television and radio, has acted as a consultant for the Discovery TV series Into the Unknown, as a question setter for the BBC's cerebral quiz show Mastermind, and has travelled throughout the world during the course of his researches. He is a Scientific Fellow of the prestigious Zoological Society of London, a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society, a Member of the International Society of Cryptozoology and other wildlife-related organisations, Cryptozoology Consultant to the Centre for Fortean Zoology, and is also a Member of the Society of Authors.

In 2005, Dr Shuker was honoured by the naming of a new species of loriciferan invertebrate after him - Pliciloricus shukeri - by its discoverer, Danish zoologist Prof. Reinhardt Kristensen, in recognition of the outstanding contribution to international zoology of Dr Shuker's book The Lost Ark.

Outside zoology, Dr. Shuker's interests include motorbikes, driving his Jaguar XJ6, vintage rock 'n' roll (Eddie Cochran, Billy Fury, Gene Vincent, etc), the life and career of James Dean, the history of animation, wildlife postage stamps, travel, and quizzes.

In November 2001, he became a high-bracket prize-winning contestant on the original, British version of the world's most successful television quiz show, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, produced by Celador.

To view the Wikipedia entry on Dr Shuker, please click here.

Dr. Shuker is always interested in communicating with publishers, magazine editors, and television companies seeking (on a paid, contractual basis) authors, consultants, or contributors for books, articles, and programmes dealing with any aspect of zoology, cryptozoology, animal mythology and folklore, anomalies of nature, and the unexplained.

NB - Television and other media companies or representatives seeking, requiring, or expecting free consultations/information need not apply.

Dr Shuker can be contacted via his agent, Amanda Little, of Watson, Little Limited in London.

He can also be contacted directly at: Karlshuker@aol.com.

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