Nahuelito

Lago Nahuel Huapi in Argentina has been attracting the attention of mystery seekers for years, primarily due to the legend of the Nahuelito, a mysterious creature resembling a prehistoric plesiosaur. First observed in 1910, it gained popularity thanks to eyewitness accounts, such as Martin Sheffield, who spotted tracks of the enormous creature near the lake. Despite numerous search expeditions, including attempts to lure it with dynamite, its existence remains shrouded in mystery. Local legends and eyewitness accounts continue to fuel the fascination with this enigmatic inhabitant of the Andean waters

Lago Nahuel Huapi in Argentina (Tiger Lake in the dialect of the local Mapuche Indians) is the site of numerous sightings of what has been described as a "Patagonian plesiosaur." It was first seen by Canadian George Garrett in 1910 and shortly thereafter by two British explorers, followed by American Martin Sheffield. The latter was a gun porter, a frequent drinker, and known among the natives for his enormous, distinctive hat. One day, he discovered the tracks of a very large animal and determined that most of them were located in the immediate vicinity of the lake. Nahuelito, as the creature is known, emerged from the calm water on sunny days and frightened locals and visitors alike ever since.

In 1922, Sheffield wrote a letter to Dr. Clementi Onelli, director of the Buenos Aires Zoo, describing the animal as having a swan-like neck and a rounded body. This report gave rise to the name "Patagonian plesiosaur." Fascinated by the possibility of a prehistoric relic surviving in a lake in the Andes, Onelli led an expedition to the area. After numerous unsuccessful attempts, he finally reached Lake Nahuel Huapi. They attempted dynamite tests to lure the animal, but this failed. A later expedition, in 1950, was not widely publicized, and therefore very little is known about its results and participants.Today, the southern end of the lake is bounded by the town of San Carlos de Bariloche, home to 100,000 people. However, with a length of 86 kilometers and a width of up to 8 kilometers, it is difficult to maintain constant surveillance. Two video recordings of the creature exist. According to Cristian Muller of the Comunidad de la Cuenca de Nahuel Huapi, an environmental conservation group, one of the tapes shows very little. The other video is being kept in a bank vault in San Carlos de Bariloche until its owner decides what to do with it. In the summer of 1996, Jessica Campbell was fortunate enough to see the animal not once, but twice in one afternoon. The weather conditions were perfect, sunny and windless. Campbell compared the lake's surface to a "sea of oil," such conditions are very common in summer. Suddenly, someone from a group of people on the beach on the San Pedro Peninsula started shouting for a camera as the Nauhelito suddenly appeared on the surface.

The Mapuche Indians sometimes referred to the animal as "Cloaked One" because its fins reminded them of a garment. This characteristic was familiar to Campbell, who saw the creature using its fins to propel itself through the water. It also showed leaps above the surface. After a few moments, the humps submerged and remained submerged for 45 minutes. They surfaced directly in front of Campbell, who was sitting on a rock. The humps turned and moved directly toward the disoriented woman. It is unknown whether the creature had hostile intentions, but Campbell became frightened and fled the scene. Needlessly, as the animal submerged and disappeared. Like Paula Jacarbe, another witness, Campbell also heard the animal's distinctive, breathing-like sound, later claiming she would never forget it.At the eastern end of the lake, 800 feet above the shore, stands Barney Dickinson's house. He has lived there since the early 1940s. Inspired by a series of articles about the Loch Ness Monster, Mr. Dickinson wrote to the Illustrated London News in 1959 to describe his own experiences. In the evenings, he often sat and watched the lake, which saw very few boats passing through. Over the years, he noted many "strange water formations" that he couldn't clearly explain. They seemed too large for a familiar animal like an otter, even though South American otters are known to grow to large sizes.

Local legends explain this. Local Indians have always believed in the existence of a monster inhabiting the lake. They call it Cuero, meaning "oxhide," in Spanish, because of the animal's skin's resemblance to that of an ox. It is dark and rough. The animal is also called El Bien Peinado, "the smooth-headed one." Stories also circulate in the area about strange tracks found on the shore and the remains of the monster's meals: hides, fur, and feathers. According to Dickinson, local gauchos report encounters with the creature, always occurring in the evening. The creature floats on the water's surface, with a single hump visible, covered in "oxhide." This description closely resembles the Norwegian Selma, the Swedish Great Lake Monster, and other creatures resembling upside-down boats

Latest reports on aquatic animal sightings (July 2009)

In 2009, interest in mysterious aquatic animal sightings grew, including the legendary Nessie of Loch Ness and its American counterpart, Champ of Lake Champlain. In May, unknown sonar signals were recorded during a cruise on the Jacobite Queen, which have yet to be explained. Simultaneously, footage of a creature resembling Nessie was discovered in Oakledge Park, USA. Additionally, mysterious animal remains were discovered in Canada and are being studied by scientists, potentially shedding new light on these enigmatic sightings.

Recently, there have been several sightings of the famous Nessie and its counterpart in the US and Canada called "Champ".

At the end of May, the first report arrived from Invernes. During a voyage of the Jacobite Queen on Loch Ness, five sonar signals were recorded. These signals were so strange that experts have yet to explain their origin. Isolated signals had occurred in the past, but these were usually attributed to radar errors. The Jacobite Queen was equipped with sonar in 2007 to record any underwater anomalies in the loch.

Sonar recording from the Jacobite Queen from 21/05/2009 (jacobite.co.uk)

The next reports came from Oakledge Park in the USA. The author of the video writes: "On Sunday, May 31st at 5:30 [a.m.], I saw something amazing on Lake Champlain. I managed to record the creature, but I don't really know what it is."

The video shows something that looks remarkably like the classic Nessie. Its head is too large to be an otter or a swimming dog, as seen specifically at the 1:31 mark. The size of the wave also suggests the animal must be larger.

Watch the video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YT49LQMxthg

In addition to ancient legends, sightings of Champ date back to the early 19th century. He has reportedly been observed and photographed over 300 times. The best photograph to date dates back to the summer of 1977, taken by Sandra Mansi.

Ogopogo. Photo by Sandra Mansi

Here is a video of her observation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dMi_xqnMas

A few days later, the author officially presented his observations to the journalist.

His name is Eric Olsen, he's 37 years old, and he's registered on YouTube as "mookiebone." Experts are still trying to determine what kind of animal is seen in the video. They say it could be a moose. The video is considered authentic, but what's seen in it remains unexplained.

On July 4th, angler Carl Roberts and his companions were fishing near Wilcox Docks when a strange creature caught everyone's eye. The fishing was excellent until 8:00 PM, when suddenly everything changed. The lake was calm, with no wind. The creature appeared 100 meters away. The anglers estimated its length at 15 meters, even clearly seeing its protruding back. The group watched the creature swim toward the harbor. It didn't swim like a snake or a dolphin. The anglers could accurately describe the animal's black-green skin. Before the peninsula, the creature disappeared underwater and never resurfaced...

Champ. Still from Olsen's film

The British Columbia-based Daily Courier reported that two scientists have agreed to examine the remains of a mysterious animal found at the edge of Okanagan Lake. The tissues will be sent to one researcher's laboratory in Ontario, Canada, while the other researcher, based in Alberta, will receive the remaining remains.

The remains were discovered two weeks ago by Kelovna resident Dan Poppoff while kayaking on Okanagan Lake, near Lakeshore Road. Poppoff is currently storing the three-foot-long remains in a freezer at his home.

Poppoff remains skeptical of claims that the mysterious carcass might belong to an Ogopogo specimen, a legendary animal that inhabits Lake Okanagan. However, he is keen to examine the remains and determine their identity. He has even contacted Arlene Gaal, a Kelovna resident who has been reporting Ogopogo sightings for many years.

Gaal is now making recommendations on how to send the tissue and remains to both researchers, but is avoiding naming the remains.

"If I had named them something, people would have immediately swallowed it and stopped being interested in investigating who these remains might belong to. I can assure you that both researchers are very competent people, experts in their fields of research. They both work at universities," Gaal said in a press interview in June.

Gaal does not know when the test results will be released, but he hopes it will be soon

Nessie

Loch Ness, known worldwide for the legend of its mysterious monster, continues to fascinate tourists and researchers. Nessie's story has its roots in medieval tales, and contemporary interest in the monster intensified in the 1930s thanks to clever advertising. Numerous expeditions, led by scientists from various fields, attempt to uncover the truth about the legendary creature. Despite the lack of definitive proof of Nessie's existence, the loch remains a place of mysteries that continue to captivate researchers and cryptozoology enthusiasts.

As all signs indicate, whenever the monstrous head rears its head from Loch Ness, we inevitably encounter a glut of headlines and a dry spell of news. Until recently, it was a staple in every August newspaper. Today, in the global village that our planet has become, scandals, tragedies, disasters, and sensations abound, regardless of the season. Therefore, Nessle, as the Scots call him, tends to soothe our frayed nerves, remaining a fascinating enigma. The affectionate nickname is entirely understandable. Along with the kilt, the bagpipes, and the wild landscape, the Loch Ness Monster is a popular tourist attraction.

The mountainous region isn't known for its fertile soil, and as we know, stories, fables, and legends easily spring from stone. Local folklore includes sagas of warlike clans and local heroes, tales of fairies, witches, trolls, and dwarves. Each geographic region has its own unique creatures, both good and evil. However, the deep waters of the "dungeons," sometimes connected to the sea, are inhabited exclusively by sinister creatures. These include primarily horses and water buffalo, or kelpies. These can drag a sheep or goat into the depths or, taking human form, seduce an innocent maiden. Legends have circulated about the Loch Ness sea serpent since time immemorial.

One of the earliest sources is the biography of St. Columba, written in 566. While sailing across Lake Ness, the saint saw a monstrous beast rapidly approaching the ship. One of the brave Scots jumped into the water to lure the monster towards him. It lunged at the hero, letting out a terrifying roar. St. Columba calmly made the sign of the cross, commanding the beast to depart, in the name of God, which worked. From then on, the sea serpent appeared regularly in chronicles.Contemporary Testimonies: It's fair to say that Nesse owes its global success to a simple advertising ploy, conceived and implemented in the early 1930s. Local hoteliers were wondering how to attract tourists. So they enlisted the help of Lester Smith, author of numerous adventure books, to unearth the forgotten story of the sea serpent. Lester Smith readily yielded, writing a vivid account of the monster. He went even further, "organizing" the first witnesses himself. As a result, in 1933, a real raid on Loch Ness took place, which—with a break of several years for World War II—continues to this day.

This is considered the beginning of many credible observations. For example, these include the accounts provided by the children MacKay and MacLennar. They clearly saw two humps emerging from the water. In fact, Nessle was seen so many times that a second article could be written about it. Fortunately, someone else did a good job. American biochemist Roy MacKay collected, systematized, and rigorously verified all the reports. From three thousand accounts spanning half a century, he selected only one hundred that were beyond question. In his elimination, he considered many factors, including optical illusion. Here's an example: Wild ducks, invisible in the sunlight, flying in a formation, cast a shadow on the water, strikingly resembling a swimming monster. And, even more strangely, professionals who observed the water from various vantage points fell victim to this visual hallucination.

Although the monster still exists on the border between fact and legend, the similarities in its descriptions by various sources, both ancient and modern, are striking. It has a long neck ending in a mouth, a two- or one-humped back, dark skin, and a rather thin tail. It's worth asking why even 19th-century accounts didn't reach the wider public. This was most likely due to the lake's isolation and the hostility of the Highlanders toward the English. The Scots long remembered the unfortunate fate of the royal Stuart dynasty.Among hundreds of photographs, only a few received Roy Mackal's approval. These include the first photograph of Nessie, taken in 1934 by an army surgeon. Robert Wilson was vacationing in Iverness with his two sons. He held the rank of colonel and enjoyed an impeccable reputation, both in the army and in his private life. The photograph shows the monster's head and neck. This most famous and clear image serves as the basis for most articles and books about Loch Ness. Among the numerous films, a four-minute black-and-white film shot in 1960 by Tim Dinsdale stands out. Some researchers consider this film sufficient and convincing evidence of the monster's existence. It has been analyzed by military experts, who unanimously confirmed the tape's authenticity. They believe the film depicts an animated object, approximately 20 feet long, moving at five miles per hour.

Dinsdaiel's film aroused enormous interest in the British House of Commons. In 1963, thanks to a parliamentary question, the "Loch Ness Phenomena Inyestigatlon Bureau" was established. It collaborates with scientists from various fields. The first joint research team to arrive here was composed of researchers from two famous universities: Cambridge and Oxford. The first American expedition took place in 1974. Dr. Robert Hines from MIT participated in it. His series of photographs constitutes valuable documentation. Reproductions of the best photographs were published in the weekly "Time" and the prestigious British magazine "Nature."

In 1976, a second expedition took place, organized by MIT and financed by the New York Times. Enthusiastic reports were written by John Wilford, a firm believer in Nessie's existence. This exposed the major newspaper to scathing criticism in America and Great Britain. The expedition was too large and overly technical, which—perhaps—accounted for the meager results. The film footage was of far less value than Hines's previous photographs. Similar expeditions take place periodically. In addition to envoys from the British Museum and Smithsonian Institute, research was also conducted by National Geographic and the Discovery television channel.According to Roy Mackal, who has since become a renowned cryptozoologist, the most important evidence from these expeditions is the results of sound tests.

The highest rating in his classification was awarded to a probe used by the University of Birmingham: Based on this, one can assume that a large animal inhabits Loch Ness. However, instead of allaying doubts, none of the expeditions provided definitive evidence for the existence or non-existence of the mysterious creature.

Question Marks: Moving the discussion to a scientific forum has greatly benefited Nessie's supporters. As is often the case, most experts are skeptical or indifferent to this controversy. The rest have split into two fiercely opposing camps, with well-known names in zoology on both sides. A minority has no doubts about the existence of the unknown creature. These include John Maurice of the British Museum, Henry Bauer of the University of Illinois, Roy Mackal representing the University of Chicago, and Robert Hines of MIT. The spokesman for the doubters is Stuart Campbell, who experienced the unpleasant experience described here with the flock of wild ducks. They consider the evidence presented merely circumstantial, disregarding eyewitness testimony. They demand a living monster, or at least its remains, and that's it. Nothing less will satisfy them.

Meanwhile, romanticists are trying to classify it as one of the biological species known to science. The most popular candidates include the plesiosaur, particularly its elongated-necked variety, known as the Elasmosaurus. An adult individual reached a length of around 40 feet. Proponents of this hypothesis argue that there is a surprising similarity between most descriptions and the reconstructed prehistoric model. It was a freshwater animal that didn't venture onto land, which perfectly fits Nessie's habits. The problem is that these enormous reptiles became completely extinct 70 million years ago. Assuming they survived to this day, as cold-blooded organisms, they couldn't have lived in the waters of Loch Ness, where temperatures are too low. Unless, of course, the giant reptiles were warm-blooded, a question that paleontologists still fiercely debate.Another candidate, the zeuglon, a very primitive type of whale, requires high water salinity. The same applies to the Steller's sea cow , which has a long neck, unless they adapted to local conditions. Primitive varieties of seals and sea lions are not seriously considered, as they come ashore too often. Among amphibians, the prehistoric salamander is considered. The giant eel is also not discounted in this role. One scientist suggests that Nessle was a giant variety of the prehistoric "Tallimonstrum," or aquatic caterpillar. Still others have imagined a specific type of sea snail. The questions therefore abound. Naturally, the existence of a small colony of animals is assumed, which, incidentally, is capable of feeding itself in a lake rich in fish.

For now, there's no resolution to the debate about Nessie's nature. It's worth noting that the inhabitants of the Highlands are least interested in discovering and identifying the monster. As a medieval prophecy predicts, its capture will wipe Inyerness from the face of the earth; half the town will burn, while the other half will be submerged by the churning waters of the lake. Out of delicacy, no one mentions that the big money will also disappear.

What does cryptozoology say about this?

At the beginning of the 20th century, it was believed that the animal world had been thoroughly explored and described, so there were no surprises, large or small. Meanwhile, in 1915, the giant panda was discovered, and much later, the playful koala bear joined the collection. A new branch of science, cryptozoology, also emerged, dedicated to the search for specimens unknown to science. In 1976, marine fauna specialists encountered a new species of shark near Hawaii. In 1994, participants of an expedition to a little-known region of Vietnam stumbled upon a variety of water ox and an unusual specimen of antelope. Discoveries of unknown insects and plants are practically commonplace.

As this suggests, flora and fauna still have much to show us, especially since there are still corners of the world unexplored by biologists. Surprisingly, Loch Ness is one of them, with most of its shores completely inaccessible due to vertically falling rocks. The loch lies in a rift valley, 700 to 1,000 feet deep. It is 25 miles long and has a narrow connection with the North Sea. Beneath the rocks lie unexplored caves filled with water. Despite the low temperatures, Loch Ness never freezes over.

Many factors complicate observation and research. Peat particles, invisible to the naked eye, make the water opaque. Temperature differences between individual layers cause relatively high waves and frequent vapors. Mirages occur not only in spring and summer but practically year-round. They cause objects to recede, approach, or be distorted. Sometimes the object of observation hangs in the air, hovering above the horizon. Furthermore, the average number of hours devoted to observations by this office, including expeditions, is 350 per year. In short, a drop in the pond.

From the perspective of many cryptozoologists, Loch Ness is an ideal location. Given the lake's isolation, its unique features, and the difficulty of conducting research, a colony of monsters could practically live there.

Nessie doesn't exist

In a BBC One film, a team of researchers concludes that the legendary Loch Ness Monster, known as Nessie, does not exist. After conducting detailed research using advanced sonar and satellite technology, the team concluded that no evidence of this mythical creature's existence has been found. Although some continue to report mysterious sightings in the loch, scientists suggest that people see what they want to see, a conclusion supported by the results of their experiment.

A BBC One crew, who created a new film about the Loch Ness Monster, claims that Nessie doesn't exist. The filmmakers decided to pursue a theory that a plesiosaur may have survived in the loch until our times. Although the animal's natural habitat was warm subtropical waters, the team concluded that it was theoretically possible for it to acclimate to Scotland's harsh conditions.

What was done? Initially, the researchers set out to recreate the probable behavior of a plesiosaur. To this end, they studied the habits and lifestyles of living marine reptiles, such as crocodiles and turtles. They hoped that the equipment installed on their boat would capture the air exhaled from Nessie's lungs. They searched the length and breadth of the lake, its entire shoreline, and its bottom, finding nothing out of the ordinary, unless a buoy buried in the mud counted as unusual. Six hundred separate sonar beams and satellite navigation technology were used to ensure that no inch of the lake was missed. Unfortunately, no major radar anomalies were observed, which would have been caused by the creature's moving body. Disappointed, the BBC researchers were forced to announce the sad conclusion: Nessie was just a legend.

So why do people still report seeing a mysterious creature in the lake? According to the team, people see what they want to see. To this end, they even conducted a small experiment: they hid a fence post beneath the water's surface, and it rose to the surface right before the tourists' eyes. Most of those interviewed later confirmed they only saw a rectangular object, but a few witnesses swore they had observed the monster's head and even drawn it!

This bleak conclusion, however, will certainly not convince most mystery researchers and cryptozoologists. All we can be sure of is that we will hear more and more new revelations and hypotheses about Nessie.

Ngoi rung

For years, a legend has circulated in Vietnam about a mysterious animal known as Nguoi Rung, or "forest man." First mentioned in 1947, the subject has been a subject of interest for scientists and local residents alike. Professor Tran Hong Viet discovered unusual footprints in the Kontum region, which attracted the attention of media and researchers. Although formal expeditions have not yet yielded definitive proof of the Nguoi Rung's existence, witness accounts and numerous legends continue to fuel fascination with this enigmatic creature. Research into its nature and behavior will continue.

One of the first mentions of this animal dates back to 1947, when Jules Harrois, a colonist in Kontum Province, wrote about a "wild man" (French: "L'Homme Sauvage") living among the Jarrai, Banhar, and Sedang people. In 1982, Professor Tran Hong Viet, now at the University of Hanoi, found footprints measuring between 28 and 16 centimeters. These footprints appeared to be as long as those of most ordinary people, but much wider. Similarly, the toes were much longer than those of humans. These footprints were found on the slopes of Chu Mo Ray Mountain. This peak is located near the Cambodian border in Sa Thay District, Kontum Province. Professor Viet returned to his research in March 1996, when Japanese television became interested in the "wild man" case. A conference was even held in Hanoi, during which photographs of the mysterious tracks were presented. Professor Viet, along with several other Vietnamese scientists, claim that this region (called the "Three Frontiers" because it is where the borders of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos converge) is the place where most encounters with the Vietnamese "wild man" occur. These were so frequent that even during the war, in 1974, General Hoang Minh Thao, commander of the northern forces occupying the central mountain range, ordered a scientific mission to the northern Kontum region to find the legendary Nguoi Rung. The expedition included Professors Vo Quay and Le Vu Khoi of Hanoi University and Professor Hoang Xuan Chinh of the Hanoi Archaeological Institute. The "wild man" was not found, returning only with a few new elephants for circuses.Witness accounts describe the monkey in various ways, ranging from large to small, covered in fur ranging from gray to brown or black, and capable of being solitary or moving in groups. But it always walks on two legs. There are many names given to the animal by locals, most of which demonstrate their respect for the creature. The Vietnamese name is Nguoi Rung—"Forest Man." It means the same as the name of the Indonesian ape known to science—Orang Utan. Locals believe that "forest men" have inhabited the forests since ancient times. They distinguish them from forest spirits and jinn, describing them as hairy, bipedal beings. Vu Ngoc Thanh, who explored the area near the Laotian border, discovered another local term: "Khi Trau," which literally means "ox-monkey" or "great ape." Anthropologist Prof. Dang Nghiem Van, dean of the University of Religious Studies in Hanoi, has collected numerous stories about the Nguoi Rung from areas ranging from northern Vietnam to the central mountains. Legends abound of small but very strong creatures who know fire and feed on what the forest provides. There are also tales of other, much larger animals. Professor Van says that at night, the Nguoi Rung come to places where people are building fires. They sit next to people and say nothing, or make inarticulate sounds. There are also stories of several monkeys that move very quickly, easily climb trees, shake bushes to dislodge insects, and sleep in caves or on mountainsides. Research on this extraordinary animal is expected to continue.

Ngoi rung - "ice man"

In search of the secrets of the "Ngoi rung," known as the "ice man," scientists have been trying to unravel the mystery of its existence for years. Its history dates back 36 years, when Dr. Bernard Heuvelmans described Homo pongoides based on a discovery in a block of ice that could revolutionize primatology. Despite the loss of the holotype and the controversy surrounding its research, interest in the "forest man" of Vietnam continues unabated. Expeditions led by Vietnamese and international researchers continue to yield new information that may shed light on this enigmatic creature.

Thirty-six years ago , Dr. Bernard Heuvelmans first published his description of Homo pongoides , based on the observation of a specimen found in a block of ice, a very small specimen that could have been a monumental discovery in the field of primatology. The loss of the holotype, coupled with the ambiguous behavior of Dr. Frank D. Hansen (who traveled the country with the find for three years), left Heuvelmans with a bitter sense of defeat. His description, it was believed, contained too many uncertainties about the "Minnesota Iceman" for its existence to be taken for granted.However, Dr. Helmut Loofs-Wissowa of the Australian National University (an old friend of Heuvelmans) shared Heuvelmans's opinion and initially assumed the specimen came from Vietnam. There are reports, including from journalist Wilfred Burchett (who traveled through Vietnam on the Ho Chi Minh Railway). While digging through sources, Loofs-Wissowa discovered that in 1974, the Vietnamese Party Secretariat had a group of scientists, led by the renowned ecologist Dr. Vo Quy, dressed in uniforms and searching the recently liberated areas of the south for a creature called "Ngoi rung," whose name meant "forest man" (the term also refers to the "Utah Orang," which we know existed in Vietnam 10,000 years ago). This expedition, however, found nothing but archaeological artifacts and an elephant for a local circus.

A further 10 years of searching in the Central Highlands also yielded little. Tran Hong Viet, now a professor at Hanoi University of Education, found a suspicious footprint, which he then photographed and cast, but his interest was such that he did not report or speak about it until the 1985 summary conference.

However, sightings in the highlands continued, including one reported in 1990 by Professor Dao Van Tien, the oldest and most respected Vietnamese zoologist. North Vietnamese veterans compared their American adversaries to monkeys, large or small. Professor Quy was interviewed by a popular magazine in 1995 after receiving a letter from a former Vietnamese soldier who had seen the monkey's body loaded onto a helicopter at a hilltop airfield in the 1960s. This rekindled interest in Hansen's specimen.Dr. Loofs-Wissowa had served as a legionnaire in Vietnam, having previously been an archaeologist. When the first non-communist archaeologists returned to Vietnam in 1978, he introduced Heuvelmans to the work of his colleagues. In November 1995, Loofs-Wissowa returned to meet Vietnamese scientists in Hanoi on the day of a conference on the "Ngoi rung," or rather, the possibility of its existence. The Vietnamese scientific community was divided: some could not believe in the creature they had not studied; others were less skeptical and argued for its existence in the unaffected and relatively depopulated highlands. Estimates suggest the creature's height could range from 1 to 1.8 meters (or more), and its fur could be black or reddish-brown. The discovery of another new mammal species in Vietnam will undoubtedly fuel debate.

In the United States, Dr. Hansen never returned the animal's body. He considers "John Dee's Oldest Tractor" to be of greater value. However, in the central highlands of Vietnam, a few locals still maintain that "Ngoi Rung" is a real animal. It is not a demon or a spirit. Its discovery is only a matter of time.