Research Article RESEARCH on WILDMEN in VIETNAM
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The RELICT HOMINOID INQUIRY 10:6-28 (2021) Research Article RESEARCH ON WILDMEN IN VIETNAM Trần Hồng Việt1*, Trần Hồng Hải1, Jeff Meldrum 2 1 Vietnam Cryptozoic and Rare Animal Research Center, Hanoi University of Education 2 Department of Biological Sciences, Idaho State University, 921 S. 8th Ave, Pocatello, ID 83209 ABSTRACT. The possible existence of relict hominoid species in various parts of the world persists as a question of limited overt interest for investigation by most scientists. Investigations in the Central Highlands of Vietnam have documented ethnographic traditions, recent anecdotal descriptions, and trace evidence, i.e. footprints, of possibly two forms of “wildmen” – a great wildman and a small wildman. A documented trackway, providing one fresh hominoid footprint, herein attributed to the great wildman, is larger than a typical local Vietnamese human footprint. Its proportions, combined with indications of a longitudinal arch, are features distinct from the footprints attributed to a sasquatch-like hominoid, as evidenced in both North America and Asia. Given historic impacts on montane habitat presumed to be occupied by the wildmen, their status is likely endangered and timely efforts to identify and understand them are needed. KEY WORDS: Relict Hominoids, Footprints, Indochina, Mainland Southeast Asia, Central Highlands, Người rừng, Sasquatch. INTRODUCTION inquire about the forest men and to gather pertinent information and evidence. The existence and nature of relict hominoids, Many paleontological and archaeological or “wildmen,” is now a topic of interest within studies in Vietnam have discovered evidence of the scientific community (Meldrum, 2012a, b). primitive hominins (i.e. Homo erectus) in However, research on wildmen attracts the Tham Hai, Tham Khuyen (Lang Son Province), involvement of only a limited number of as well as modern humans (Homo sapiens) at scientists around the world (Mã Tranh, 2002). Hang Hum (Yen Bai Province), Thung Lang In Vietnam, the legends of “forest men” have (Ninh Binh Province; Schwartz et al., 1994, been recounted for hundreds of years, but it was 1995; Le Trung Kha, 1974; Ho, PT, 1997). not until the 1970s that the Vietnamese Fossil skeletal remains and tools dating back to government showed serious interest in the the Old Stone Age were found in many places potential existence of these creatures. In 1974, the throughout the country (e.g. Nui Do, Nui Vietnamese government sponsored a research Nuong, Nui Quan Yen, etc.; Tinh uy, UBND team, which included Prof. Hoang Xuan Chinh tinh Thanh Hoa, 2000). The latest finding was (Archaeological Institute), Vo Quy, and Le Vu eleven primitive tools from the Lower Khoi (Hanoi University), to go to the Liberated Paleolithic Era (about 800 kya) in Roc Tung Area of Gialai-Kontum and Dak Lak Provinces, to (An Khe, Gia Lai; Doi et al., 2020). *Correspondence to: Trần Hồng Việt, Email: [email protected] © RHI RESEARCH ON WILDMEN IN VIETNAM 7 With regard to anthropoids, evidence of wildmen in the central area of Vietnam (Viet, Pongo pygmaeus, P. hooijeri, Gigantopithecus 1986, 1998). When it was determined that there blacki, etc. have been found (Schwartz et al., were indeed some evidences of wildmen in 1995). Lately, two complete subfossil Kon Tum Province, the government resolved skeletons of orangutan (an adult female and a (number 65/HDBT, date 7/4/1982) to designate juvenile), dating back 4,000-5,000 years ago, 35,500 ha of forest of Mom Ray Mountain have been found at Cao Ram (Luong Son, Hoa region to protect and study them further. As of Binh; Bacon & Vu, 2001). 2002, it has been designated the Cum Mom Ray During the two wars in Vietnam (1945- National Park (see Fig. 1, 2). Adjacent to the 1975), there were many eyewitness accounts of Chu Mom Ray National Park are protected wildmen-encounters deep in the forest, areas in Cambodia and Loas. The entire area experienced by American, South Korean and has about 700,000 ha of forests creating a large Vietnamese soldiers. Some notable accounts cross-country preserve, which has particular include Captain Frank Hansen’s story of an important to biodiversity conservation in Indo- alleged frozen wildman corpse, eventually china and Southeast Asia. exhibited in Minnesota (Huevelmans & The region has been identified as the Porchnev, 1974; Huevelmans, 2016); Southern Annamites Montane Rain Forest Australian journalist Wilfred Burchette’s story Ecoregion by the World Wildlife Fund. The intact about the “forest man” in Dak Mil Province forests of the ecoregion are wet closed (Central Highlands; see Forth, 2008); broadleaf evergreen forests receiving up to 200 Cryptozoologist Loren Coleman’s tale about cm (78 inches) of precipitation. It is otherwise wildman at Thi Village (Dak Lak; Coleman little explored due to its remoteness and and Huyghe, 1999; see also Loofs-Wissowa, hazards (e.g. landmines). The known flora and 1996); Columnist Kregg PJ Jorgenson’s fauna attest to the region's biological diversity. accounts about the Người rừng (Central The tiger (Panthera tigris), Asian elephant Highlands; Jorgenson, 2001); and other (Elephas maximus), douc langur (Pygathrix anecdotal accounts of American GI encounters nemaeus), gibbon (Hylobates gabriellae), wild with “rock apes” (Meldrum, pers. comm.). dog (Cuon alpinus), sun bear (Ursus These persistent reports of encounters with malayanus), clouded leopard (Pardofelis wildmen raised the possibility of the existence nebulosa), gaur (Bos gaurus), banteng (Bos a relict hominoid in Vietnam and drew the javanicus), and Eld's deer (Cervus eldii) are attention of Vietnamese scientists. among the better known of the 122 mammal species found here (Wikramanayake, n.d.). FIELD INVESTIGATION Ten field investigations, comprising a total of 432 days, at 21 locations in Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Vietnamese scientists had been involved with Dak Lak, and Lam Dong Provinces were wildmen investigations since 1974, but it was undertaken (Fig. 2). Eyewitness accounts of the not until 1977 that the research on wildmen was wildmen were gathered from the locals, and a officially undertaken in the South of Vietnam. thorough study of environmental habitat, traces, In 1982, the research project titled “Study and footprints, diet, activities, etc. was made where the proposed measures to protect the valuable and locals had reportedly encountered the wildmen. rare animals in Sa Thay, Gialai-Kontum” Unfortunately, due to inadequate expedition coded 5202-0102b, which is a part of a key conditions, the serious deficiency of the national program on environment (5202), was equipment, limited time and interruption conducted with the main purpose of studying during the fieldwork, the data collected were RESEARCH ON WILDMEN IN VIETNAM 8 not as abundant as expected and no conclusive They are not afraid of humans, and do not run evidence of the existence of the wildmen was away unless approached. They are active both found. There were, however, some noteworthy diurnally and nocturnally. They have been observations as follows: encountered at 7:00-9:00 am, 1:00 pm, 4:00 pm, 9:00 pm, and some indeterminate times 1.) Wildmen are suspected to exist in a few based on discovered footprints, but the locals scattered, secluded areas in the eastern usually saw them during the daytime (11 out of south-central coast of Vietnam (from 18 encounters). Quang Nam to Phu Khanh) and in five They were seen solitarily most of the time. provinces in the Western Truong Son Out of 18 encounters, the locals only saw a Range (Annamite Range). Neverthe- three-member group twice, and a male and less, during and after the wars, the female couple five times. habitat has been shrinking significantly According to the locals, wildmen are omnivorous, with varied diets including leaves, 2.) There are perhaps two kinds of wild sour berries, rattan sprouts (Calamus wildmen co-existing in Vietnam: the bonianus), tiger grass sprouts (Thysanolaena “great wildman” and the “small wild- latifolia), pith and fruit of banana (Musa man”. Their range may overlap in one coccinae); also, bird eggs, young birds, small area – Dak Lak Province. trapped animals, frogs, toads, fish, shrimp, crab, snails, larvae, and insects. There is no GREAT WILDMAN evidence of fire use, so food is presumed to be eaten raw. Local names: Người rừng (Kinh), Kdghăt (Ê They use simple sounds, such as long or Đê), Jring (Mơ nông), Bông bót, bơ ban mơ short, monotonous yelling calls, or sometimes nâng (Giarai). wails, to vocalize. There is no evidence of The larger form is reported to be about 1.8- communication using articulate speech. 2.0 m (5 ft 11 in – 6 ft 7 in) in height. Their It is noteworthy that no one has reported body is covered with long red-brown or dark- being attacked by wildmen in eighteen known brown hair, excepting the face, which skin is encounters, which indicates that they are pink-grey. The hair on their head is unkempt, generally not fierce or aggressive towards hanging down to the shoulder or middle of the humans. back, longer than remaining body hair. The hair on their back lies smooth while that on their Footprint Evidence belly is separated in two directions, parted in the midline of their body, from the neck to the Regarding trace evidence attributed to the great end of the belly (compare Fig. 3). The forearm wildman, more than ten human-shaped foot- hair on the outside is long and twirls up toward prints were discovered on Ngoc Vin pass, Mom elbow. The back of their hands and feet are also Ray Mountain, Sa Thay district, Kontum covered with hair. They have a robust physique province, on April 23, 1982. The footprints and disproportionately thick body. clearly indicated a bipedal walk. The distance They walk up-right and bipedally at a slow between steps was approximately 70 cm (27.5 and leisurely pace with a slight stoop, hands in).