Jungle ape man spotted by Brits

By LEON WATSON
Published: 30 Sep 2009

BRIT explorers claim they have spotted a legendary ape man believed to inhabit an island jungle — and snapped its footprints.

The four-strong team and their Indonesian guide were tracking through dense jungle in Sumatra when two of them caught a glimpse of the famous Orang Pendek — or short man.

The group brought back a hair sample and a piece of chewed palm from the island's Kerinci National Park they hope will provide DNA evidence of the beast.

They also snapped a strange footprint thought to belong to the creature.

Sightings of the hairy human-like monster have been made in the area since colonial times — and it is alleged to be immensely powerful.

The explorers hope the sample of rattan palm, which is thought to have been munched on by the Orang Pendek, will contain some of its cells. The palm and hair sample have been sent for testing.

Elusive

Witnesses have described the beast as being about 5ft tall and say that it walks on two legs.

It is thought to be extremely powerful — with reports of onlookers 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.

The elusive Orang Pendek shares its habitat with the Sumatran Tiger, pythons, and Saltwater crocodiles.

Richard Freeman, the expedition zoologist and zoological director at the Centre for Fortean Zoology, said he believes 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.

"It's name means 'short man' in Indonesian.

"It's supposed to be a powerfully built upright walking ape.

"It walks on two legs rather than four - like a man, about five foot tall with dark fur - immensely strong.

"It's been seen since colonial times.

"It's quite possible that in some museum there are skull and bones of the Orang Pendek that have been labelled orangutan."

The team, who have just returned from their two-week expedition, hailed it a success and are awaiting the results of the DNA tests.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/weird/2661919/Jungle-ape-man-spotted-by-Brits.html

Jungle ape man spotted by Brits

By LEON WATSON
Published: 30 Sep 2009

BRIT explorers claim they have spotted a legendary ape man believed to inhabit an island jungle — and snapped its footprints.

The four-strong team and their Indonesian guide were tracking through dense jungle in Sumatra when two of them caught a glimpse of the famous Orang Pendek — or short man.

The group brought back a hair sample and a piece of chewed palm from the island's Kerinci National Park they hope will provide DNA evidence of the beast.

They also snapped a strange footprint thought to belong to the creature.

Sightings of the hairy human-like monster have been made in the area since colonial times — and it is alleged to be immensely powerful.

The explorers hope the sample of rattan palm, which is thought to have been munched on by the Orang Pendek, will contain some of its cells. The palm and hair sample have been sent for testing.

Elusive

Witnesses have described the beast as being about 5ft tall and say that it walks on two legs.

It is thought to be extremely powerful — with reports of onlookers 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.

The elusive Orang Pendek shares its habitat with the Sumatran Tiger, pythons, and Saltwater crocodiles.

Richard Freeman, the expedition zoologist and zoological director at the Centre for Fortean Zoology, said he believes 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.

"It's name means 'short man' in Indonesian.

"It's supposed to be a powerfully built upright walking ape.

"It walks on two legs rather than four - like a man, about five foot tall with dark fur - immensely strong.

"It's been seen since colonial times.

"It's quite possible that in some museum there are skull and bones of the Orang Pendek that have been labelled orangutan."

The team, who have just returned from their two-week expedition, hailed it a success and are awaiting the results of the DNA tests.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/weird/2661919/Jungle-ape-man-spotted-by-Brits.html

Ape Man? Researchers Spot Legendary Orang Pendek in Sumatra

Written by Jace Shoemaker-Galloway
Published on October 1st, 2009
Posted in About Animals

Legend has it, an ape-like man has been roaming the forests of Sumatra for years. For two weeks, a team of British explorers from the Centre for Fortean Zoology (CFZ), along with an Indonesian guide, tracked the creature deep within the Kerinci National Park to find evidence of the ape-like man known as Orang Pendek, or short man.

Two of the explorers caught a brief glimpse of the hairy creature. The two described the creature as a broad-shouldered, large-headed creature with black skin and dark brown hair about the size of an adult chimpanzee.

The creature was seen chewing on a piece of vine, which was collected and preserved in ethanol. Hair samples were also collected for analysis. Although the witnesses were unable to get a photograph of the creature as it squatted in a tree, photographs were taken of the creature’s footprints, which were about six to seven inches long. The guide, completely overwhelmed by the rare sighting, reportedly burst into tears and had to be comforted by team members.

CFZ’s Zoological Director Richard Freeman said, “We are not talking about a unicorn or griffin, we are talking about an ape that’s unknown to science.” CFZ investigates unknown species of animals.

Orang Pendek Project

Debbie Martyr, from the Orang Pendek Project, is also hot on the trail of the elusive creature. Martyr originally went to Sumatra to help save the island’s dwindling rainforest. She did not believe the creature existed until she saw the creature with her own eyes. On a mission, the former reporter hopes to provide the first real photographic proof the primate actually exists.

The Legend of Orang Pendek

There have been many accounts of the elusive hairy creature over the years. Often described as a powerful, ape-like creature about three to five feet tall, its body is covered in hair. The creature walks in an upright position on its two legs.

Hobbits

In 2003, remains of a Homo floresiensis, nicknamed Hobbit, were discovered on the Indonesian island of Flores. Some wonder if this early bipedal man with a grapefruit-sized skull may be related to the Orang Pendek? The Hobbits lived on the island as recently as 12,000 to 18,000 years ago, had very small brains and small bodies.

Fact or fiction, legend or myth - is the Orang Pendek an ape, small man or just ancient folklore?

http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/01/ape-man-researchers-spot-legendary-orang-pendek-in-sumatra/

Ape Man? Researchers Spot Legendary Orang Pendek in Sumatra

Written by Jace Shoemaker-Galloway
Published on October 1st, 2009
Posted in About Animals

Legend has it, an ape-like man has been roaming the forests of Sumatra for years. For two weeks, a team of British explorers from the Centre for Fortean Zoology (CFZ), along with an Indonesian guide, tracked the creature deep within the Kerinci National Park to find evidence of the ape-like man known as Orang Pendek, or short man.

Two of the explorers caught a brief glimpse of the hairy creature. The two described the creature as a broad-shouldered, large-headed creature with black skin and dark brown hair about the size of an adult chimpanzee.

The creature was seen chewing on a piece of vine, which was collected and preserved in ethanol. Hair samples were also collected for analysis. Although the witnesses were unable to get a photograph of the creature as it squatted in a tree, photographs were taken of the creature’s footprints, which were about six to seven inches long. The guide, completely overwhelmed by the rare sighting, reportedly burst into tears and had to be comforted by team members.

CFZ’s Zoological Director Richard Freeman said, “We are not talking about a unicorn or griffin, we are talking about an ape that’s unknown to science.” CFZ investigates unknown species of animals.

Orang Pendek Project

Debbie Martyr, from the Orang Pendek Project, is also hot on the trail of the elusive creature. Martyr originally went to Sumatra to help save the island’s dwindling rainforest. She did not believe the creature existed until she saw the creature with her own eyes. On a mission, the former reporter hopes to provide the first real photographic proof the primate actually exists.

The Legend of Orang Pendek

There have been many accounts of the elusive hairy creature over the years. Often described as a powerful, ape-like creature about three to five feet tall, its body is covered in hair. The creature walks in an upright position on its two legs.

Hobbits

In 2003, remains of a Homo floresiensis, nicknamed Hobbit, were discovered on the Indonesian island of Flores. Some wonder if this early bipedal man with a grapefruit-sized skull may be related to the Orang Pendek? The Hobbits lived on the island as recently as 12,000 to 18,000 years ago, had very small brains and small bodies.

Fact or fiction, legend or myth - is the Orang Pendek an ape, small man or just ancient folklore?

http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/01/ape-man-researchers-spot-legendary-orang-pendek-in-sumatra/

Explorers hope Sumatran ape will yield clues on human development

dave.tanner@archant.co.uk
15 September 2009

AN unknown species of Indonesian ape could shed light on how our human ancestors began to walk erect.

The orang-pendek of Sumatra is said to be a powerfully built ape that walks on two legs like a man. Both native people and western explorers, including two noted scientists, have reported the creature from the deep jungle.

This week four English scientists and explorers will brave the rainforest in search of the orang-pendek.

The team from the Woolsery-based Centre for Fortean Zoology, will spend two weeks in Sumatra working with the Kubu people, the island's original inhabitants, who will help them track the mysterious ape.

The expedition comes shortly after the announcement of the discovery of a fossil hominid in Georgia. The Dmansis hominids lived 1.8 million years ago and had legs like modern humans, but primitive arms. Their early occurrence has made scientists rethink how hominids moved out of Africa to colonise the rest of the world.

Richard Freeman, the team's zoologist, said: "It was once thought that our ancestors became bipedal when they descended from the trees and moved onto the grass lands of East Africa in order to exploit new food sources. However, now it seems that many apes and hominids were moving 'bipedally' while they were still rainforest dwellers.

"As well as being a major zoological discovery, the orang-pendek could give us some clues on how bipedalism developed."

The group's trip will be recorded on the Centre for Fortean Zoology's website at http://www.cfz.org.uk/

http://www.northdevongazette.co.uk/northdevongazette/news/story.aspx?brand=NDGOnline&category=news&tBrand=devon24&tCategory=newsndga&itemid=DEED15%20Sep%202009%2005%3A45%3A09%3A257

Explorers hope Sumatran ape will yield clues on human development

dave.tanner@archant.co.uk
15 September 2009

AN unknown species of Indonesian ape could shed light on how our human ancestors began to walk erect.

The orang-pendek of Sumatra is said to be a powerfully built ape that walks on two legs like a man. Both native people and western explorers, including two noted scientists, have reported the creature from the deep jungle.

This week four English scientists and explorers will brave the rainforest in search of the orang-pendek.

The team from the Woolsery-based Centre for Fortean Zoology, will spend two weeks in Sumatra working with the Kubu people, the island's original inhabitants, who will help them track the mysterious ape.

The expedition comes shortly after the announcement of the discovery of a fossil hominid in Georgia. The Dmansis hominids lived 1.8 million years ago and had legs like modern humans, but primitive arms. Their early occurrence has made scientists rethink how hominids moved out of Africa to colonise the rest of the world.

Richard Freeman, the team's zoologist, said: "It was once thought that our ancestors became bipedal when they descended from the trees and moved onto the grass lands of East Africa in order to exploit new food sources. However, now it seems that many apes and hominids were moving 'bipedally' while they were still rainforest dwellers.

"As well as being a major zoological discovery, the orang-pendek could give us some clues on how bipedalism developed."

The group's trip will be recorded on the Centre for Fortean Zoology's website at http://www.cfz.org.uk/

http://www.northdevongazette.co.uk/northdevongazette/news/story.aspx?brand=NDGOnline&category=news&tBrand=devon24&tCategory=newsndga&itemid=DEED15%20Sep%202009%2005%3A45%3A09%3A257