An expert has cast doubt on the existence of the Loch Ness monster as he revealed the apparent real reason behind sightings of the mythical creature.
Adrian Shine founded the Loch Ness Project in the mid-1970s, a research group centred around the loch in the Scottish Highlands and its legendary monster.
But the 76-year-old has now said alleged sightings of the mythical sea serpent, nicknamed Nessie, could be down to people mistaking ordinary events.
He told The Sun: “The sightings are caused by ship wakes.
“Here they develop this multi-humped form and that’s what people often see.
“There are other phenomena too — Nessie’s long-necked form is birds on a calm surface.”
Mr Shine explained his doubts over the existence of the monster were sparked when he mistook a “hump” for a rock.
However, he said he would be “delighted” to see proof of the creature.
Adrian Shine founded the Loch Ness Project in the mid-1970s
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Mr Shine last year helped to identify a camera trap left by Nessie hunters more than half century ago.
The camera, which is thought to be one of the earliest attempts to catch the Loch Ness monster on film, was found about 180 metres deep in the water during trials of the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) Autosub vessel.
It is believed to be one of six cameras placed there in 1970 by Professor Roy Mackal, of the Loch Ness Investigation Bureau and the University of Chicago, three of which were lost in a gale in the same year.
The camera was encased in clear plastic waterproof housing and was found to be in good condition, and an NOC engineer was able to develop the film.
There were five alleged sightings of the Loch Ness monster recorded last year
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However, the loch’s most famous inhabitant does not seem to have made an appearance.
“It was an ingenious camera trap consisting of a clockwork Instamatic camera with an inbuilt flash cube, enabling four pictures to be taken when a bait line was taken,” Mr Shine explained at the time.
“It is remarkable that the housing has kept the camera dry for the past 55 years, lying around 180 metres deep in Loch Ness.”
Alleged sightings of the mythical creature date back to 1933.
According to the Official Loch Ness Monster Sightings Register, there were five sightings last year alone.
In one alleged sighting on October 28, 2025, a woman said she saw something “popping up” from the loch which made a “distinct pattern” in the water.
In the same month, a man reported seeing a “dark shape” in the water before it “disappeared”, according to the sightings register.