Editorial: Release Johor Photos
Posted by: Loren Coleman on July 11th, 2006
The drawings by Vincent Chow and Sean Ang, at one level, are to be appreciated. At another level, they have caused further frustration and a growing level of impatience within the general cryptozoological community.
Here is Cryptomundo’s Peter Loh drawing of the head of a Johor Hominid (then called Mawas) – the first drawing allegedly based on Chow’s photos – compared to a photograph of the head of an orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus), also called in Indonesia, mawas.
As far as can be understood from the new stories being told, we now don’t know where these alleged Johor Hominid photographs were taken, who took them, or when. We all thought they had been taken out of the country with a “former Communist guerilla” who departed. However, now it appears Vincent Chow still holds some of them. But the tale has changed; sometimes they were taken by a team of people protecting the Johor Hominid, and sometimes it is all about one primary person.
A sketch of the head of a chimpanzee. Source: German wikipedia.
To all our surprise, with the addition of a new webmaster, the photographs have reappeared and although they cannot be published for some reason, they are being traced. But what do they show? A chimpanzee-like head? A mask? An unknown hominid? An actor performing for a reality television program, a documentary, or a motion picture?
Neither chimp masks or a gorilla head match the traced drawing of the Johor Hominid.
When I conducted the Myakka “Ape” photographs investigations, I decided to be as open and sharing with all the information that came my way, as possible. In the Myakka case, the Florida photographer was unknown, so it became all the more important to involve anyone and everyone in identifying that person. In these Johor events, it dismays me that the photographer is known, but his identity hidden by the primary investigator. Furthermore, the photographs, which hopefully hold their own information, remain unreleased, hidden from other researchers and helpful investigators. Why?
The comparison game begins to take on a silliness that is usually found in political circles.
Primary questions in this ongoing situation remain unanswered, and the mere creation of a website (which is a form of publication) is difficult to understand if the photograph is NOT going to published there. If the need was for a formal scientific paper to be written and published, to then have a website appear with a chatroom, well, seems a questionable move.
The Johor Hominid “photographs” could even be of a recreated paleoanthropological species model, used within a documentary or, as here, for National Geographic.
As members of the hominological and cryptozoological community, we understand that many eyes looking catch the monkey, so to speak. With the release of the photographs, only then can a concerned united effort be forthcoming to identify many of the basic elements of this mystery. But the way this is being played out, the skeptics and critics from within are being given plenty of ammunition before the first photographic images grace the pages of a website, book, or journal.
Presently, we are confronted, as well, with Sean Ang publishing two of his “hand-traced” sketches of the Johor Hominid (see below):
Click on image for full-size version
Even before the Chow head drawing appeared, everyone was talking about the Johor Hominid Hand. But the time seems beyond talking about drawings.
Patience and passion are good virtues, yes, but good judgement is another one, and it is needed currently. This continued web-based publicity and enticing the public with an ongoing censored release of data must be challenged. Please, Vincent Chow, if there is good evidence of a Johor Hominid, open the book, metaphorically speaking, on the case and release the photographs. Look to how Ivan T. Sanderson and Bernard Heuvelmans found it necessary to publish in a timely fashion on Homo pongoides. No matter the eventual outcome, the situation can’t get much worse than this one has become.
About Loren Coleman
Loren Coleman is one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, some say “the” leading living cryptozoologist. Certainly, he is acknowledged as the current living American researcher and writer who has most popularized cryptozoology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Starting his fieldwork and investigations in 1960, after traveling and trekking extensively in pursuit of cryptozoological mysteries, Coleman began writing to share his experiences in 1969. An honorary member of Ivan T. Sanderson’s Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained in the 1970s, Coleman has been bestowed with similar honorary memberships of the North Idaho College Cryptozoology Club in 1983, and in subsequent years, that of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, CryptoSafari International, and other international organizations. He was also a Life Member and Benefactor of the International Society of Cryptozoology (now-defunct).
Loren Coleman’s daily blog, as a member of the Cryptomundo Team, served as an ongoing avenue of communication for the ever-growing body of cryptozoo news from 2005 through 2013. He returned as an infrequent contributor beginning Halloween week of 2015.
Coleman is the founder in 2003, and current director of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine.
I couldn’t have said it better myself, Loren. The tide is already turning against Chow and Ang, as evidenced by some of the comments made by visitors to their website over the last couple of days.
Maybe they don’t want us to see the big monolith in the background of the photos!
Is it all about money?
Very well stated Loren. I don’t know what to say anymore about this one. I’m really kind of ticked off about the whole thing. Chow and Ang are not making very wise decisions. This one isn’t even fun anymore, it’s leaving a rather sour taste. Time to move on.
Well said Loren,
Chow and others involved need to understand their credibility is slowly – but surely eroding away.
I’m bored with this story. Chow and Ang must either be friends with Cheech and Chong or students of the Biscardi school of crypto hype.
I agree with you Loren. Why don’t you hop on a jet and get over there and confront them in person? That would make for an interesting story, wouldn’t it?
I don’t confront so much as attempt to be reasonable with people about such things. However, I would gladly go to Malaysia to talk this over with all parties involved. Just send me a ticket. My passport is current. 🙂
I think the most suspicious part of all this is- if these hominids do exist and can be photographed, theoretically there is nothing stopping anyone else from getting their own pictures of them and releasing them before Vincent Chow does– therefore stealing the thunder of Chow’s great discovery and book deal.
Yet he clearly isn’t afraid of that happening…
SpaghettiYeti:
From what we’ve learned in the last few days, apparently Chow doesn’t even know where the photos were taken. At least, that’s what’s being claimed. If true, my guess is that he’s not worried about anyone else getting there first, because no one else knows where “there” is! 🙂
I wholeheartedly volunteer to assist Loren on his Malaysia trip. My passport is current, and I’ve got a great camera. Send a ticket this way too.
Word.
Very well put Loren. I agree 100%
Well said Loren!
I think all of us in the Bigfoot and Cryptozoology Community are starting to question Mr. Chow and Mr. Ang’s credibility.
Mike Aragona
BFRO Investigator New Jersey
Very well stated Loren!!!
Show me the money oops pictures.
Vincent and Sean are being harrased again and again over their website (if you read the message at the chat box) because of not publishing the photos over the internet. I think Vincent has been kind enough to draw a sketch which looks close to the hominid in the photo.
I copy and paste the comments from Vincent over johorhominid website, regarding why the photos cannot be released as yet:
“Cambodian guerilla?
Written by ‘Guest’ on 2006-07-12 14:19:52
——————————————————————————–
Where did this come from? I have never, ever mentioned” Cambodian guerilla”, anytime or anywhere. Malaysia is not anywhere near Cambodia and our nearest northerly neighbour is Thailand. I was not the photographer and I don’t own the photos. One of the conditions imposed for releasing the four photos to me for the purpose of study was that none of these was to be posted on the internet. My agreement with the owners remain and I cannot renege on my words.
I am as anxious as anyone to share the photos. Yes, there is some resemblance to the Ngui Roung of Vietnam but to say that the shots are stills from movies, post them here and I will comment on them.
Vincent “
“My agreement with the owners remain and I cannot renege on my words.
I am as anxious as anyone to share the photos.”
Despite our frustration with the “hype” (I want to see those pics too), I suppose we should respect the above statement from Mr. Chow.
I would ask, however, Mr. Chow, is there enough interest now that the person sharing the photos might reconsider, and allow at least a piece of one of the photos to be released? (And not a photo of just the hand, please.)
tcsee, I find it funny that you say that Vincent and Sean are being “harrassed.” Again, I’ll ask: what did they expect would happen? They created the website. They’ve given press interviews. They’ve released tidbits of information. If they didn’t want people asking for the pictures, they should have refused to give any information from the get-go.
If they continue to hype the photos, they should expect to hear demands to see them.
jjames, i’m not against that people demanding and wanting to view the photos. The problem is, some who demanded that to be released, maybe are out of patience and start using uncivilized vulgar 4 letters words to harrass the website owners…it happened many times at the chat room. That I think isn’t right.
When Vincent is not releasing the photo yet, according to him that is due to the promise he hold with the original photo owner… is it fair that he was greeted with 4 letters vulgar words just because they hold onto the promise? It is not funny at all 🙁
a turning point i agree this is starting to be a run around . this story is getting more and more difficulta debate over the supposed great shocking pictures.