Mermaids: Real or Hoax

It is quite taboo when we talk about the existance of unearthly creatures like ghosts, spirits and aliens or the supernatural. However, when proof is provided in front of your eyes, you sometimes fall into confusion as to whether you want to believe it or not.

A recent exhibition theming Ghosts and the Mysterious was held in Shah Alam Museum in Malaysia. The main feature was actually a mummified mermaid, claimed to be the real deal!


I was a bit overwhelmed when I saw that picture; so I did some research on it. It was claimed that the mermaid was verified to have human DNA and the tail has fish DNA. How could they fuse? I'm no chemist or biologist, but wouldn't the fusion of two DNAs produce another unique DNA of the overall creature?

There are hoaxes in history and the closest that I could find is the Fiji Mermaid. Click on the link to find out more. The main exposure to this possible hoax is that the two body parts have been stitched together using papier-mâché by a skilled Indonesian craftsman. The upper body was an orangutan and the tail of fish. Since the exhibit featured a small mermaid, it is very likely that the founder of the exhibit found this "skilled Indonesian craftsman" and revived the media hoo-hah of the Fiji Mermaid.

All in all, I think the exhibition lets our imagination go wild which is good, but the impact on society to believe such things is quite ridiculous. If these findings are valid, why doesn't it get international attention? I know why. And it could be highly likely that these exhibitions have been emulated all over the world but telling audiences the truth that they are fake. If the museum authorities knew about the authenticity of these exhibits as scams, shame on them to commercialize by challenging people's perceptions on the supernatural.

Friday's Dinner: Again, chicken prawns and some leftovers.