North Devon explorers in hunt for Sumatran 'yeti'

A group of British explorers and scientists from the North-Devon based Centre for Fortean Zoology (CFZ), the world's largest mystery animal research organisation, is about to embark on an expedition in search of a yeti-like creature in Indonesia.

The four-man team will search the jungles of Sumatra for what locals call the "orang-pendek.". The powerfully built, upright-walking beast may be related to both the orang-utan and the much larger yeti of mainland Asia.

In the same island chain remains of the tiny hominid known as Homo floresiensis were unearthed in 2003.

The Kubu people - an ancient race who were the first inhabitants of Sumatra - will aid the team. The tribe and their chief have seen the creature in their poorly explored jungle homelands. Westerners have sighted the orang-pendek too, including Englishwoman Debbie Martyr, now head of the Indonesian tiger conservation group, and wildlife photographer Jeremy Holden.

Also reported in the same jungles are huge horned snakes said to be ten metres long, and a savage, golden cat with a stubby tail and large canine fangs.

The expedition's zoologist, Richard Freeman, Zoological Director of the CFZ, said: "The orang-pendek is especially interesting as it is an ape that walks upright rather than on all fours. It may show us how our own ancestors first began bipedal locomotion.

"The cigau may be a surviving form of Homotherium or scimitar cat, which is a beast related to the better known sabre-toothed cats. Fossils of this animal have been found in Indonesia that are only 10,000 years old. In evolutionary or geological terms that is yesterday.

"The giant snakes, known as 'nagas' by the Kubu, may be a new species. There are horned snakes such as the rhinoceros viper and the horned viper, but these are small. The nagas of the Kubu are said to be ten metres long! The 'horns' are probably modified scales.

"New species are turning up in Indonesia all the time; it is the real life lost world."

Team leader Adam Davis, together with Dr Chris Clark and Dave Archer, will join Mr Freeman.

You can follow the group's adventures on line at the CFZ website on www.cfz.org.uk

North Devon Gazette Source.

It would be great if something is found. These jungles that are often not explored probably do hold some secrets, perhaps not 10 foot long snakes with horns on their heads, but I'm sure many other species of animals and insects etc are yet to be documented. Good luck on the trip and here's hoping for some good news!

Update, they have returned:

Mysterious Orang Pendek apeman spotted by British expedition

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.

Source.

I guess we now just wait for the results.

[edit on 4-10-2009 by Arawn]