A major scientific study of Loch Ness has discovered its famous monster might be real.
Researchers travelled the length of the loch and took water samples from three different depths.
The scientists collected DNA left by creatures from their skin, scales, feathers, fur and faeces.
Samples were then sent to labs in New Zealand, Australia, Denmark, and France to be analysed.
Professor Neil Gemmell of the University of Otago, New Zealand, said the results were “surprising”.
He is an expert in genomics, ecology, population, conservation and evolutionary biology.
The professor says he hopes full details of the study’s findings will be released next month.
But he hinted that one of four popular theories about Nessie ‘might’ be correct.
One is that the monster is a long-necked plesiosaur that survived the period when dinosaurs became extinct.
Another more likely explanation is that Nessie is in fact a sturgeon or giant catfish living in the loch.
Prof Gemmell said: “Is there anything deeply mysterious? Hmm. It depends what you believe.
“Is there anything startling? There are a few things that are a bit surprising.
“What we'll have achieved is what we set out to do, which is document the biodiversity of Loch Ness in some level of detail.
“We've tested each one of the main monster hypotheses and three of them we can probably say aren't right and one of them might be.”
