Att fånga det som kanske inte finns : Natursyn i fångstförsök och fridlysning av Storsjöodjuret 1893–2009
Händén-Svensson, Sanna LU
(2025)
In Budkavlen: Tidskrift för etnologi och folkloristik
104.
p.27-49
- Abstract (Swedish)
- This article examines the search for the Storsjöodjuret and how evolving perspectives on nature and science have shaped attempts to capture and protect this cryptid. Initially considered a sjörå—a folkloric guardian of a specific place—Storsjöodjuret was later framed within scientific inquiry as a potential, yet undiscovered, species. During the 19th century, as zoological studies gained prominence, the creature became a subject of rigorous investigation, with researchers such as Peter Olsson and Einar Lönnberg trying to uncover its true nature. Interest peaked around the turn of the 20th century, with numerous reported sightings fueling public fascination.
Efforts to capture Storsjöodjuret ranged from harpoons, traps, and steel... (More) - This article examines the search for the Storsjöodjuret and how evolving perspectives on nature and science have shaped attempts to capture and protect this cryptid. Initially considered a sjörå—a folkloric guardian of a specific place—Storsjöodjuret was later framed within scientific inquiry as a potential, yet undiscovered, species. During the 19th century, as zoological studies gained prominence, the creature became a subject of rigorous investigation, with researchers such as Peter Olsson and Einar Lönnberg trying to uncover its true nature. Interest peaked around the turn of the 20th century, with numerous reported sightings fueling public fascination.
Efforts to capture Storsjöodjuret ranged from harpoons, traps, and steel chains to specially designed floating platforms equipped with electric lighting. Over time, sonar technology, underwater cameras, and other advanced scientific instruments replaced these rudimentary mechanisms. This technological shift reflected broader transformations in methodology and conceptual understandings of the creature. No longer viewed primarily as an elusive biological entity, Storsjöodjuret increasingly took on symbolic significance, attracting cryptozoologists and tourists alike.
In 1986, the County Administrative Board of Jämtland enacted a controversial protective measure, officially placing Storsjöodjuret under conservation—despite the absence of empirical evidence verifying its existence. This legally dubious decision was scrutinized and ultimately revoked in 2005. Although Storsjöodjuret was never captured nor scientifically confirmed, the pursuit persisted, driven by speculation, eyewitness accounts, and the enduring human desire to reconcile myth with empirical reality. The search for Storsjöodjuret thus exemplifies how conceptions of nature influence our perceptions of the unknown, shaping cultural narratives, scientific inquiry, and conservation policies—whether or not the creature itself truly exists. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/3163cc02-d106-4cd1-803e-9e27f14053d8
- author
- Händén-Svensson, Sanna
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Budkavlen: Tidskrift för etnologi och folkloristik
- volume
- 104
- pages
- 27 - 49
- publisher
- Institutet för folklivsforskning vid Åbo Akademi
- ISSN
- 0302-2447
- DOI
- 10.37447/bk.162364
- project
- Natursyn i föreställningar om Storsjöodjuret
- language
- Swedish
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 3163cc02-d106-4cd1-803e-9e27f14053d8
- date added to LUP
- 2026-02-18 16:51:53
- date last changed
- 2026-02-20 13:05:12
@article{3163cc02-d106-4cd1-803e-9e27f14053d8,
abstract = {{This article examines the search for the Storsjöodjuret and how evolving perspectives on nature and science have shaped attempts to capture and protect this cryptid. Initially considered a sjörå—a folkloric guardian of a specific place—Storsjöodjuret was later framed within scientific inquiry as a potential, yet undiscovered, species. During the 19th century, as zoological studies gained prominence, the creature became a subject of rigorous investigation, with researchers such as Peter Olsson and Einar Lönnberg trying to uncover its true nature. Interest peaked around the turn of the 20th century, with numerous reported sightings fueling public fascination.<br/><br/>Efforts to capture Storsjöodjuret ranged from harpoons, traps, and steel chains to specially designed floating platforms equipped with electric lighting. Over time, sonar technology, underwater cameras, and other advanced scientific instruments replaced these rudimentary mechanisms. This technological shift reflected broader transformations in methodology and conceptual understandings of the creature. No longer viewed primarily as an elusive biological entity, Storsjöodjuret increasingly took on symbolic significance, attracting cryptozoologists and tourists alike.<br/><br/>In 1986, the County Administrative Board of Jämtland enacted a controversial protective measure, officially placing Storsjöodjuret under conservation—despite the absence of empirical evidence verifying its existence. This legally dubious decision was scrutinized and ultimately revoked in 2005. Although Storsjöodjuret was never captured nor scientifically confirmed, the pursuit persisted, driven by speculation, eyewitness accounts, and the enduring human desire to reconcile myth with empirical reality. The search for Storsjöodjuret thus exemplifies how conceptions of nature influence our perceptions of the unknown, shaping cultural narratives, scientific inquiry, and conservation policies—whether or not the creature itself truly exists.}},
author = {{Händén-Svensson, Sanna}},
issn = {{0302-2447}},
language = {{swe}},
pages = {{27--49}},
publisher = {{Institutet för folklivsforskning vid Åbo Akademi}},
series = {{Budkavlen: Tidskrift för etnologi och folkloristik}},
title = {{Att fånga det som kanske inte finns : Natursyn i fångstförsök och fridlysning av Storsjöodjuret 1893–2009}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.37447/bk.162364}},
doi = {{10.37447/bk.162364}},
volume = {{104}},
year = {{2025}},
}