Bernard Heuvelmans

Bernard Heuvelmans was born on 10 October 1916 and died on 22 August 2001. A Belgian-French scientist, explorer, and writer, he is best known as a founding figure in cryptozoology, the study of hidden or unknown animals. His 1955 book *Sur la Piste des Bêtes Ignorées* (published in English in 1958 as *On the Track of Unknown Animals*) is considered a foundational text in the field. Heuvelmans brought a scientific lens to the search for creatures like the Yeti and the Loch Ness Monster, collaborating with biologist Ivan T. Sanderson. Beyond his scientific work, Heuvelmans contributed to comics, credited as a writer on 17 issues from 1962 to 2019, primarily on *Les Aventures de Tintin* and its international editions. His later life saw him continue to write and research, solidifying his legacy as a pioneer of cryptozoology.