An organization which collects and analyzes Loch Ness Monster reports announced that 2016 has produced the most credible number of Nessie sightings since 2000.
According to the Official Loch Ness Monster Sightings Register, there were seven strong cases for potential Nessie encounters this past year.
"You have to go back to 2000 when there were 11 sightings, for more appearances of Nessie," Gary Campbell, director of the register, told the Press and Journal.
He noted that 2016 had some fairly unique cases in the annals of Nessie history, including two sightings that happened on the same day from different locations at Loch Ness, which Campbell said was a first for the register.
He also marveled that another pair of reports came from people who were watching Loch Ness via webcam and spotted something strange.
"It means that there are more people than ever before looking for Nessie – which would explain the rise in sightings," Campbell said to the paper about the addition of webcam viewers to the mix of monster hunters.
While seven sightings may sound scant to the uninitiated, the 2016 total follows what had been dubbed a "vintage year" in 2015 when five reports were added to the register.
Taken together, the totals over the last two years suggests that perhaps, with the proliferation of cell phones and other recording devices, Nessie is having an increasingly difficult time hiding from humans.
Whether 2017 continues the trend remains to be seen, but it's likely that, unless someone snags the notorious creature, the Nessie will still be as elusive as ever when we get the report on next year's sightings.
Coast Insiders looking to learn more about the legendary Loch Ness Monster can check out author Steve Alten's 5/4/2005 appearance on the program.
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Source: Press and Journal