reconstruction of what Lufengosaurus
might have regarded like in life (© Debivort/Wikipedia – CC BY-SA 3.0 licence)
On 13 March 2019, I blogged right here on ShukerNature
about numerous reviews emanating from New Guinea and its smaller neighbouring
islands (particularly New Britain) regarding giant unidentified creatures that
have typically been likened to dwelling non-avian dinosaurs. Specifically, I
documented some searches made throughout this current century for such cryptids by
thriller beast investigators Brian Irwin and Todd Jurasek (click on right here to entry this ShukerNature
article of mine).
Recently, furthermore, Brian has kindly made
freely accessible to me for full use on ShukerNature an intensive report written
by him that not solely covers among the incidents recorded by me in my earlier
article but in addition comprises a lot extra, contemporary data, together with particulars
referring to additional, more moderen searches by him. Consequently, and with
Brian’s variety permission, I now have pleasure in reproducing beneath his full
report, which incorporates plenty of illustrations all provided by him and whose
copyright, until in any other case famous, belongs to him. Thanks Brian!
Is A Giant Theropod Nonetheless Alive In Papua New Guinea?
By Brian Irwin
Tim
Neville is an Australian who labored for the Wallindi Plantation Resort at
Kimbe, West New Britain in Papua New Guinea. In 1992-93, Tim was diving off the
east coast of Alage (Aui) Island, positioned off the south coast of West New
Britain between Kandrian and Gasmata. Whereas diving, Tim noticed some giant
three toed foot prints of an unknown animal within the mud on the ocean ground. Tim
later enquired on the neighbouring Ambungi and Sep Sep Islands concerning the
existence of a dwelling dinosaur. Nobody at these islands had data of any
such creature at the moment. Nonetheless, sightings of an animal resembling a theropod
dinosaur commenced round Ambungi Island a few years later.1
The
writer has travelled to West New Britain quite a few instances.2 With the
exception of Alphones Likky, all eyewitnesses on this report had been interviewed
throughout an expedition in November 2022. Alphones was interviewed by the writer
in 2012.
The
three islands positioned on the south of West New Britain between Kandrian and
Gasmata the place the reptilian creature has been sighted. Every sq. on the map
represents one sq. kilometre.
Alphones Likky’s sighting in 1995
Alphones
was spear fishing on the reef on the east aspect of Ambungi Island in 1995. Whereas
he was underwater on the underside of the reef and going through south, he heard
one thing crashing into the coral behind him. When Alphones rotated he
was startled to see a big animal solely about 5 metres away and totally
submersed. The animal had an extended neck and tail, with giant rear legs and
duck-like ft. The forelimbs had been a lot smaller than the rear legs. The pores and skin
was darkish brown and the pinnacle was small and snake-like. A dermal frill (‘noticed’)
was seen on the animal’s again and tail, however not on the neck. The animal was
bipedal and walked slowly with its neck horizontal. The tail was noticed to be
shifting significantly whereas the animal was strolling. The creature was
roughly 4 metres in size from the entrance limbs to the top of the tail
and the peak was 2 to three metres. The sighting might have lasted as much as 10 seconds
earlier than Alphones surfaced and left the realm in worry. There are some small caves
on the east of Ambungi Island and Alphones mentioned the animal was heading within the
path of one of many caves. Nonetheless the animal was not noticed to enter the
cave and it’s unlikely an animal of the scale described by Alphones may enter
the comparatively small caves on the east aspect of Ambungi Island. Afterwards a
native college library reference ebook with animals was discovered and Alphones
recognized a dinosaur with giant rear legs and smaller forelimbs because the type of
animal he noticed close to Ambungi Island.3
Alphones
Likky (left) on the mainland of West New Britain in 2012.
Alice Pasingan’s sighting in 1999
One
morning in 1999 round 6-7 am, Alice was alone in her backyard on the south of
Ambungi Island close to the ocean. She was astonished to see a big bipedal reptilian
animal strolling slowly about 12 metres away to the south. The animal was
estimated to be 1.9 metres tall and had a dermal frill from the again of the
head to the top of the tail. Alice’s husband, Martin, later drew an image of
the creature beneath instruction from Alice (see drawing beneath). The color was
brown and the stomach was purple. The animal’s physique and tail moved back and forth
and the neck was upright because it walked. No sound was heard from the creature.
When the animal noticed Alice, it appeared frightened and it opened its mouth to
reveal sharp tooth. The creature then rotated and walked slowly down an
incline to a 2-metre cliff then jumped into the ocean. Alice watched the animal
from a rock ledge close to the incline (see photograph beneath) because it headed in direction of the
sea. The sighting lasted about 2 minutes, throughout which period Alice’s canine ran
away. That is the one recognized sighting of this sort of animal on the land at
Ambungi Island.
Martin’s (Alice’s husband) drawing of the animal seen
by Alice in her backyard.
It took 3-4 makes an attempt until Alice was proud of the
drawing.