A British expedition in Indonesia have spotted the mysterious apeman which supposedly lives there.
The Orang Pendek, Indonesian for "short man", was spotted by two members of the team on the vast island of Sumatra - the sixth largest island in the world - in the west of Indonesia.
But far from being something magical or supernatural, the Orang Pendek is probably just an unknown species of ordinary ape.
Mysterious Orang Pendek apeman spotted by British expedition
By Richard Alleyne, Science Correspondent
30 Sep 2009
The Telegraph
A mysterious ape man reported to inhabit an island jungle has been spotted by British explorers who even managed to get pictures of its footprints.
The team of four British explorers and their Indonesian guide tracked through dense and treacherous jungle in the Kerinci National Park of Sumatra where two of them caught a glimpse of the Orang Pendek - or short man.
The team have brought back hair samples and a piece of palm they hope will provide DNA evidence of the Orang Pendek - a creature sighted in the area since colonial times and reputed to be immensely powerful.
A sample of hair thought to belong to the ape is also being analysed.
The team hopes that by sending the sample to several labs, they will find DNA evidence of the Orang Pendek.
Sightings of the creature go back to the time of colonialism.
Witnesses have described it being about five foot tall and say that it walks on two legs, like a human.
It is also thought to be extremely powerful - with reports of witnesses seeing it ripping apart logs.
After a spate of sightings around Lake Gunung Tuju, in the Kerinci national park, a team from the Devon-based Centre for Fortean Zoology - which investigates unknown species of animals - embarked on a two-week mission to the region to see if they could obtain evidence of the creature.
Richard Freeman, the expedition zoologist and zoological director at the Centre, said he believes that the creature is an unidentified species of ape.
“We are not talking about a unicorn or a griffin, we are talking about an ape that’s unknown to science,” he said.
The team, who have just returned from their two-week expedition, hailed it a success and are awaiting tests.
“We found several sets of tracks in mud and earth,” he said.
“I know those tracks are not made by any species of ape and are not made by any species known to be living in the park.
“It was an ape - but not a known type of ape - it’s more adapted for upright walking.”
Mr Freeman said two of the expedition saw the creature from behind but unfortunately, the team did not manage to get a photograph.
Famous Mystery Beasts
The Black Shuck, which attacked Blythburgh church door in 1577, the results of which can still be seen, is one of probably hundreds of types of demonic dogs which haunt the British Isles
The Orang Pendek, Indonesian for "short man", was spotted by two members of the team on the vast island of Sumatra - the sixth largest island in the world - in the west of Indonesia.
But far from being something magical or supernatural, the Orang Pendek is probably just an unknown species of ordinary ape.
Mysterious Orang Pendek apeman spotted by British expedition
By Richard Alleyne, Science Correspondent
30 Sep 2009
The Telegraph
A mysterious ape man reported to inhabit an island jungle has been spotted by British explorers who even managed to get pictures of its footprints.
The team of four British explorers and their Indonesian guide tracked through dense and treacherous jungle in the Kerinci National Park of Sumatra where two of them caught a glimpse of the Orang Pendek - or short man.
The team have brought back hair samples and a piece of palm they hope will provide DNA evidence of the Orang Pendek - a creature sighted in the area since colonial times and reputed to be immensely powerful.
A sample of hair thought to belong to the ape is also being analysed.
The team hopes that by sending the sample to several labs, they will find DNA evidence of the Orang Pendek.
Sightings of the creature go back to the time of colonialism.
Witnesses have described it being about five foot tall and say that it walks on two legs, like a human.
It is also thought to be extremely powerful - with reports of witnesses seeing it ripping apart logs.
After a spate of sightings around Lake Gunung Tuju, in the Kerinci national park, a team from the Devon-based Centre for Fortean Zoology - which investigates unknown species of animals - embarked on a two-week mission to the region to see if they could obtain evidence of the creature.
Richard Freeman, the expedition zoologist and zoological director at the Centre, said he believes that the creature is an unidentified species of ape.
“We are not talking about a unicorn or a griffin, we are talking about an ape that’s unknown to science,” he said.
The team, who have just returned from their two-week expedition, hailed it a success and are awaiting tests.
“We found several sets of tracks in mud and earth,” he said.
“I know those tracks are not made by any species of ape and are not made by any species known to be living in the park.
“It was an ape - but not a known type of ape - it’s more adapted for upright walking.”
Mr Freeman said two of the expedition saw the creature from behind but unfortunately, the team did not manage to get a photograph.
Famous Mystery Beasts
The Black Shuck, which attacked Blythburgh church door in 1577, the results of which can still be seen, is one of probably hundreds of types of demonic dogs which haunt the British Isles
- The Loch Ness Monster: Probably the world's most famous example of cryptozoology, it lives in Loch Ness, the fourth largest lake in the UK, after Lough Neagh, Lower Lough Erne (both in Northern Ireland) and Loch Lomond in Scotland (they are called loughs in NI, lochs in Scotland and lakes in England and Wales). At almost 750 feet deep, Loch Ness is the UK's deepest loch. Thought by many people to be from a line of long-surviving plesiosaurs. Modern sightings - and the creation of the term Loch Ness Monster - date back to 1933, when a London man saw a "prehistoric animal" crossing the road in front of his car carrying something in its mouth.
- The Morgawr: The Morgawr (pronounced "mor gwar") is England's equivalent of the Loch Ness Monster, and inhabits Falmouth Bay off Cornwall. In Cornish (the Celtic language spoken in south west England), "mor gawr" means "sea giant." It was first sighted in 1906.
- Black Shuck etc: The Black Shuck is one of many demonic black dogs which, as they have been doing for centuries, roam Britain at the dead of night, on its lonely moors, deserted highways and ancient cemeteries. For centuries, inhabitants of East Anglia in eastern England have told tales of a large black hellhound with malevolent flaming eyes (or in some variants of the legend a single eye) that are red or alternatively green. They are described as being the size of saucers. According to reports, the beast varies in size and stature from that of simply a large dog to being the size of a horse. On 4 August 1577, at Blythburgh, Suffolk, Black Shuck is said to have burst in through the church doors. He ran up the nave, past a large congregation, killing a man and boy and causing the church tower to collapse through the roof. As the dog left, he left scorch marks on the north door which can be seen at the church to this day (Suffolk rockers The Darkness once sang a song about it). Other black dogs roam other parts of Britain, including Hairy Jack, Skriker, Padfoot, Churchyard Beast, Shug Monkey, Cu Sith, Galleytrot, Capelthwaite, Mauthe Doog, Hateful Thing, Swooning Shadow, Bogey Beast of Lancashire, Guytrash, Gurt Dog, Bargheust of Troller's Gill. Though you wouldn't want to see one - these demonic hounds are a portent of death.
- Bigfoot: Bigfoot is an ape-like creature living in the northwestern US and southwestern Canada. Modern sightings date back to the 1920s.
- Chupacabra: Its name means "goatsucker" in Spanish. This little creature, with spines running down its back, which supposedly lives in Central and South America, kills livestock, especially goats, and drinks their blood.
- Yeti: Similar to the Bigfoot, but supposedly has white fur and inhabits mainly snowy areas of the Himalayas.
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