Everything about Orang Pendek totally explained
Orang Pendek (
Indonesian for "short person") is the most common name given to a
cryptid, or unconfirmed animal, that reportedly inhabits remote, mountainous forests on the island of
Sumatra.
The animal has allegedly been seen and documented for at least one hundred years by forest tribes, local villagers,
Dutch colonists, and
Western scientists and travelers. Consensus among witnesses is that the animal is a ground-dwelling,
bipedal primate that's covered in short fur and stands between 80cm and 150cm tall.
Location
While Orang Pendek or similar animals have historically been reported throughout Sumatra and
Southeast Asia, recent sightings have occurred largely within the
Kerinci regency of central Sumatra and especially within the borders of Taman Nasional Kerinci Seblat (
Kerinci Seblat National Park) (TNKS). a plant known locally as "pahur" or "lolo", young shoots, insects in rotting logs, and river crabs.
Sources
Witnesses from many different backgrounds have reported seeing Orang Pendek over the last hundred years.
Suku Anak Dalam
The
Suku Anak Dalam (roughly, "Children of the Inner-forest"), also known as
Orang Kubu or
Orang Rimba, are a group of people who have traditionally lived in the forests of Kerinci and surrounding areas. Orang Pendek have been a part of their world for centuries. As long as outsiders have documented their culture, this tribe has described the animal as a co-inhabitant of the forest. They know the bounds of Orang Pendek territory and will often leave offerings of tobacco to keep them happy. Dr. David Chivers, a
primate biologist from the
University of Cambridge, compared the cast with those from other known primates and local animals and concluded:
» ...the cast of the footprint taken was definitely an
ape with a unique blend of features from
gibbon,
orang-utan,
chimpanzee, and
human. From further examination the print didn't match any known primate
species and I can conclude that this points towards there being a large unknown primate in the forests of Sumatra.
Dr. Hans Brunner, a hair analysis expert from
Australia famous for his involvement in the
Lindy Chamberlain case in 1980, compared the hairs to those of other primates and local animals and concluded that they originated from a previously undocumented species of primate.
Currently,
National Geographic is funding a multi-year camera-trapping project led by Dr. Peter Tse of
Dartmouth College and aimed at providing photographic documentation of Orang Pendek. The project began trapping in TNKS in
September 2005.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Orang Pendek'.
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