Sweden's Nessie loses its special protection

A NESSIE-like mythical monster, believed by some to have lived for hundreds of years in the murky depths of a Swedish lake, is now fair game for hunters - if they can find it - after authorities agreed to lift its endangered-species protection.

Hundreds of people claim to have spotted a large serpent-like creature in Lake Storsjon in the north-western province of Jamtland, and in 1986 the regional council put it on a list of endangered animals.

But a government watchdog challenged the decision, saying such protection was hardly necessary for a creature whose existence has not been proven.

The council has now agreed to remove the listing, but declined to rule out that there is a monster living in the 300ft-deep lake. "It exists, inasmuch as it lives in the minds of people," said Peter Lif, the council's chief legal adviser.

The so-called Storsjo monster was first mentioned in print in 1635. Some people describe the creature as a snakelike animal with a dog's head and fins on its neck. But no clear image of it has been captured on camera.

Storsjo monster aficionados said lifting the endangered species protection was a mistake, and appeared insulted. "We are not fanatics," said Christer Berko, of the Storsjo Monster Association. "We see this as very interesting phenomenon that we unfortunately have not been able to prove."