Champ (cryptozoology)
Champ, often referred to as Champy, is a legendary cryptozoological creature said to inhabit Lake Champlain, which spans the border between New York and Vermont. This mythical water entity is frequently described as a 20-foot-long sea serpent with a horse-like head and has been part of local folklore since pre-colonial times, with Indigenous peoples of the region recounting tales of the creature long before European exploration. Notably, Samuel de Champlain, the lake's namesake, allegedly spotted the creature in 1609, though interpretations of his account suggest he may have encountered a large fish instead.
Over the years, there have been more than 300 reported sightings of Champ, with a significant spike in interest during the late 19th century. The 1977 Mansi photograph is one of the most cited pieces of evidence purported to show Champ, depicting a creature with a long neck and humped back. However, skeptics argue against the creature's existence, citing the lake's size, depth limitations, and the absence of physical evidence, such as carcasses or verified sightings. The debate surrounding Champ continues to generate interest in cryptozoology, with theories ranging from claims of undiscovered species to suggestions of misidentified or hoax-related sightings. As discussions about Champ persist, they reveal a fascinating intersection of folklore, local culture, and the search for unexplained phenomena.
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Champ (cryptozoology)
Champ is a cryptozoological animal, a subject within the study of imaginary creatures. Champ is also known as Champy and Tatoskok; it is a water creature that allegedly lives in Lake Champlain, a 490-square-mile lake located between the U.S. states of New York and Vermont. Champ has a history dating back to pre-colonial times as it was mentioned by the indigenous Native Americans of New York. As of 2015, there have been over 300 alleged sightings of Champ: it is described as an approximately 20-foot-long sea serpent with the head of a horse. Cryptozoologists report that Champ may be of the same lineage as the famous Loch Ness Monster of Scotland.
Brief History
Local legends concerning Champ date back to the settling of the Lake Champlain region by the Native Americans. In 1609, explorer Samuel de Champlain is alleged to have seen Champ, though he may have been describing a large fish. The next major sighting and description of Champ occurred in 1819 and the local newspapers first reported stories of Champ in 1883. In 1977, the Mansi photograph surfaced, which appeared to be documented proof of Champ’s existence. In the early 1980s both Vermont and New York passed laws protecting the habitat and life of Champ.
The Iroquois natives, who lived in the area that later became New York, had legends of Champ that were passed down through generations, and these stories inspired de Champlain to look for the creature when he was exploring the area for France. Cryptozoologists, examining the journals that de Champlain wrote, concluded that he was describing a fish, the garfish, which is native to the region. In 1819, Captain Crum, a boat captain, saw what he claimed to be Champ; he described a creature that was approximately 187 feet in length, black in color, with a flat head, three teeth, white eyes, and a red-banded neck. Crum described the creature as raising its neck and head 15 feet out of the water, and being accompanied by two sturgeon and a bill fish.
Various local newspapers throughout the region reported stories of Champ’s existence and description, especially toward the end of the nineteenth century when P.T. Barnum, of Barnum and Bailey’s circus, offered a reward of $50,000 for proof of Champ’s existence. Barnum wanted either the creature captured while alive or its corpse. In 1873, the New York Times reported on the existence of Champ—a county sheriff claimed to have seen it, and a steamboat is alleged to have run into Champ.
The most recent, more solid evidence of Champ’s existence is the Mansi photograph, a picture taken by Sandra and Anthony Mansi in 1977. The Mansis reported seeing a creature with a small head, long neck, and a humped back approximately eight feet out of the water. The entire amount of time that Champ was above water was reportedly no more than seven minutes.
Impact
There are theories that attempt to prove or disprove Champ’s existence; other theories attempt to explain the dynamics of how Champ lives in the water, and where it lives; still other theories attempt to explain the connections between Champ and the Loch Ness Monster. The theories that attempt to prove or disprove Champ’s existence are many of the same theories that are tied to the Loch Ness Monster.
The theories that attempt to disprove Champ’s existence rely on the facts that the lake is not large enough for a creature of Champ’s size to hide and survive; that the age of the legends would require Champ to be of a significant age, beyond that of any known animal; that there would need to be a substantial food population for the creature to survive; and that there is no physical proof of Champ’s existence. The average depth of Lake Champlain is 60 feet, while the maximum depth is approximately 400 feet. The location at which the Mansi photograph was taken had a depth of no more than 14 feet. This suggests that there is no physical location for a creature the size of Champ to be in, and requires a separate explanation for the photograph. Those people who endorse Champ suggest the creature may be a member of a large, exotic species that is able to defy the size requirements a typical animal would require.
The second argument against Champ existing is that the first stories of Champ date back to the Iroquois tribe, between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries. If Champ is still being sighted in the twenty-first century, its age would range between 500- and 800-years-old. No other animal on Earth has such a long life span. Supporters of Champ claim that the sea serpent may have family members or descendants of its species that would explain the long-lasting lifespan of the legend. However, this circles back to the first argument against Champ’s existence, which is that if one creature cannot hide, how would an entire family of Champs hide?
The strongest argument against the existence of Champ is that there is no physical proof. There have not been any carcasses found on the lakeshore, nor have there been any verified photographic, videographic, or testimonial evidence for Champ’s existence. Supporters of Champ explain that new forms of life are constantly being found, and past inability to find something is not evidence of its non-existence.
There are several possible explanations that are posited to explain the nature of the photographs, video, and testimony for Champ. The three major categories of explanations are hoaxes, confusion with inanimate objects, and misidentification of other animals. Hoaxes are set forth by individuals intending to mislead others for fun or profit into believing that Champ exists. Hoaxes include doctored photographs, as well as false statements and reports of the existence of Champ. Lastly, there is misidentification of both animate and inanimate objects, such as trees or logs floating in the lake, or confusion as to whether a real animal is Champ, such as a large fish, an eel, or beaver.
Bibliography
Bartholomew, Robert. The Untold Story of Champ: A Social History of America’s Loch Ness Monster. New York: State U of New York P, 2012. Print.
"Champ History from Ancient Times." Pamphlet. Lake Champlain Visitor Center Guide. Print.
Coleman, Loren, et al. Field Guide to Lake Monsters, Sea Serpents, and Other Mystery Denizens of the Deep. New York: Tarcher, 2003. Print.
Costello, Peter, et al. In Search of Lake Monsters. San Antonio: Anomalist, 2015. Print.
Ellis, Richard. Monsters of the Sea: The History, Natural History, and Mythology of the Ocean’s Most Fantastic Creatures. New York: Knopf, 1994. Print.
Nickell, Joe. "Legend of the Lake Champlain Monster." Skeptical Inquirer 27.4 (July/Aug 2003). Print.
Nickell, Joe, and Benjamin Radford. Lake Monster Mysteries: Investigating the World’s Most Elusive Creatures. Lexington: U of Kentucky P, 2006. Print.
Redfern, Nick. True Stories of Real-Life Monsters. New York: Rosen, 2014. Print.
Zarzynski, Joseph. Champ: Beyond the Legend. Derbyshire: Bannister, 1984. Print.