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covered in dry eucalypt forest, five square metres of native grass had been disturbed, in that each clump of grass had been pulled up with the roots and then placed back exactly where it had grown. Two weeks later, a distinctive brown patch of dead grass was evident. The calls of this animal were similar in some respects to the call of the first animal I'd heard in 1978, in that they were a series of unvarying or repeated calls which were quite powerful and occurred continuously for about five minutes. The first call, though, was even more powerful, with a very bass note as if uttered by a very large animal. This second call was higher- pitched and sounded as if it came from a smaller animal. Strangely enough, this accorded with the sighting of an unusual animal some months before by some friends. had been disturbed, in that each clump of grass had been pulled identity for these unknown animals. The calls were typical up with the roots and then placed back exactly where it had of a territorial call, being loud, powerful and repetitive, and grown. Two weeks later, a distinctive brown patch of dead grass uttered on quiet, windless nights so that the calls were far-carry- covered in dry eucalypt forest, five square metres of native grass Te calls that I heard can be used to provide a provisional was evident. ing and could reach the ears of other territory-holding adults. The calls of this animal were similar in some respects to the call The small bipedal primate observed and heard in 1996 is of the first animal I'd heard in 1978, in that they were a series of unlikely to be an immature or halfgrown specimen of the much unvarying or repeated calls which were quite powerful and larger bipedal primate observed and heard in 1978. This is occurred continuously for about five minutes. The first call, because immature animals do not hold territories or give territori- though, was even more powerful, with a very bass note as if al calls. If they did, it would be an immediate invitation for a uttered by a very large animal. This second call was higher- fully grown animal to locate the brash young usurper and drive it pitched and sounded as if it came from a smaller animal. off. Strangely enough, this accorded with the sighting of an unusual Because both territorial calls were similar in their make-up (a animal some months before by some friends. series of loud, repetitive calls) and were made under similar con- ditions (still, moonlit nights in June), it can be inferred that both | yn Clark and her 12-year-old son Joshua were on their way animals are closely related. This also agrees with sightings to our house in the late afternoon to attend the birthday descriptions of unknown bipedal primates. However, it can also party of one of our daughters on 23 March 1996. Because be inferred from both territorial calls that two different species are they were concerned that their old car might not be able to climb involved. the steep, kilometre-long hill up to the house, they decided to The 1978 call was a continuous series of extremely powerful, walk up the driveway. bellowing roars, as would be expected from a large bipedal pri- Joshua was in front, and halfway up he was surprised to see mate, 2.5 metres tall and inhabiting the rainforest. The 1996 call what appeared to be one of the children from the party, dressed in was a continuous series of powerful, high-pitched barks in series dark clothing and running headlong of three, with a softer gurgling call down the steep slope. He was included. These latter calls were amazed that a child could run associated with the sighting of a downhill at such a pace, and found small bipedal primate, 1.25 metres it even more remarkable that the tall, inhabiting mountainous, dry child was not running down the Afterwards, Lyn described to me sclerophyll forest. concrete driveway but was running It is a common occurrence within down a slope thickly covered in what she had observed: closely related animal species large clumps of kangaroo grass, a dark-furred animal with a round inhabiting a similar ecological niche grass-trees and scattered shrubs and utilising a similar food resource beneath a eucalypt canopy. He was head and no tail, running on two that a major size difference evolves sure it was a child because of its legs like a person. | was naturally so that one species is half the size posture—it was bent slightly for- and weight of the other, so as to ward, as is normal for a person run- extremely sceptical oo reduce competition amongst them. ning down a hill—and he expected This is perfectly shown in the to see the child trip and fall at any observed size difference in these moment. But the child ran down two undescribed bipedal primates. towards him without any difficulty Different territorial calls also evolve until it saw him and then turned and in closely related species and fur- stopped about 30 metres away. ther reduce competition between them. Joshua was even more surprised now because, although it was Both species were known to the Aboriginal people and shaped very like a child and was 1.25 metres tall, about the same European settlers, particularly those working in the bush. height as a 10-to-12-year-old, it was covered in thick, black hair Aboriginal people throughout eastern NSW knew the larger with only its dark face visible. Joshua rushed back to get his species as Doolagarl, Doolagard, Gooligah, Thoolagal, Moomega mother and pointed the creature out to her, as it was still standing and Yaromah, depending on their language group. Aboriginal in the same position. people—from Sydney, inland to the Blue Mountains and Bathurst, Lyn found it difficult to see because the creature was very well and down to Batemans Bay and Bega—appear to have used the camouflaged until it began to move. From a bipedal position, it word Yowie, or Yourie, for ghosts and evil spirits. This name, dropped down to move off slowly downhill, knuckle-walking as a along with the name Yahoo, then appears to have been applied to quadruped. Then, as it gathered speed, it stood erect and ran off the large bipedal primate by early European settlers. After the down the hill. settlers arrived, both the terms Yowie and Yahoo were also used Afterwards, Lyn described to me what she had observed: a by Aboriginal people, though Europeans also used the terms dark-furred animal with a round head and no tail, running on two Hairy Man and Australian gorilla. However, Yowie has become legs like a person. I was naturally extremely sceptical, as Thad the accepted name in recent years.' seen nothing unusual in my explorations of the area, and told her Cryptozoologists researching reports of similar large bipedal that it could only have been a swamp wallaby, often seen on the _ primates (usually known as Wild Men) across Africa, Eurasia, slope—though she insisted that it didn't hop but ran on two legs. Southeast Asia and the Americas agree that the animal appears to It wasn't until I heard the unexpected calls at close range that I be Gigantopithecus, known only from half-a-million-year-old fos - was able to believe that Lyn and Joshua had seen a very remark- sils from China. Descriptions of the physical appearance and able animal. behaviour of the Yeti of the Himalayas, the Yeren of China, the Afterwards, Lyn described to me ; what she had observed: legs like a person. | was naturally extremely sceptical ... 70 NEXUS a dark-furred animal with a round head and no tail, running on two AUGUST — SEPTEMBER 1999