Johor Photo Release
Posted by: Loren Coleman on August 3rd, 2006
Sean Ang, apparently on behalf of Vincent Chow, has decided to release a small portion of the eyes of an alleged Johor Hominid from one of the alleged photographs (see below).
It’s not much. But it’s something. Of course, it only raises more questions. If they can show us this much, why not a total and complete release of this evidence? What is this really a photograph of? Where was it taken? When? What does it show? From this tidbit, is it a photograph of any great ape in a zoo, a movie costume, or an unknown hominoid? What’s with this "reward" business? This is not scientific. Proving a hoax? It is difficult to get "proof" of a negative.
I don’t buy that the questions and concern of reasonable people interested in this investigation did not have a part in this release. So bring on your comments…below.
Also, this gives us all an opportunity to compare one of the alleged photographic images with the presented drawings supposedly based on those. See here, for example, the "eyes sketch" that may be viewed with what Ang was using as his model, apparently. It is obvious that many details from the photograph were missed in the sketch or tracing. This further calls into question the usefulness of all previous drawings or tracings posted as important submissions in this examination. Only the photos will do, in the end.
Here’s the snippet of the "photograph" and Sean Ang’s statement:
The above Eye Photo is part of the bigger photo labeled as JH002: Jogi. Jogi is a short form for Johor Girl (Jogi). There is also a possibility for us to name the individual Jody (Johor Lady). Perhaps this could be appropriate, but as usual most sapiens female prefer a name representative of youthfulness and vivacity we assume Jogi would be more appropriate. You can debate over this, and we can change the name accordingly.
The release of the eye photo is a big breakthrough, made possible via Vincent’s art of diplomacy. Let us extend our gratitute to the JH Guardians (Wee and Gang) for the permission. However, please note that this should not be construed as us succumbing to various pressure groups and very impatient individuals who are demanding the release of the photos without understanding our problems.
Our approach is as follows:
a. Luring the tiger out of the mountain
We (johorhominid.org and JWPS) are offering a cash price of RM1200 to anyone, anywhere around the world, who can find a match of the photo or prove to us beyond doubt that the above eye photo is a Hoax. Additional to that, the successful individual stand to receive free accommodation (2 nights 3 days) in a 5 Star hotel in JB, plus a guided tour (conducted personally by Wee Pao Chin) to the important sites in Johor’s rainforest where the hominin is likely to be seen. Airfare to Malaysia is not inclusive.
b. Sacrificing the plum for the peach
We also hope to reduce resentments toward us to further push the Johor Hominin Agenda. Frequent galls and rancours may distract serious discussions, and infact we are hoping that more serious researchers, experienced palaeoanthropologists or anthropometricians will come forward to provide views on the issues. The release of the eye photo hopefully will attract their attention.
Mean time, put on your thinking cap and tell us more of what you think of the Real Eyes of Jogi.
Sean Ang
p/s please forward the photo to all your friends
++++++UPDATE++++++
For a complete rundown on all the August 4th breaking news on the "Johor Hominid" hoax discovery, please see: Johor Hominid Photos: Hoax! Johor Pix Hoax: More More Johor Fallout: Peter Loh Reacts.
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.
Yesterday, in reference to the eyes photo shown above, Loren wrote, “Is this the first break in the release of the photographs?”
Turns out it was THE big break, albeit not in the manner anticipated.
Kudos to the French and Italians who, it seems, are perfectly capable of collaborating productively in the wake of the World Cup. 🙂
A few months ago (long before the story on the johore hominid)saw a documentary on Vietnam and Cambodia. In it, a farmer claimed to the Western journalist to have once seen an unusuual creature in the jungle there that no one there klnew or had seen before. the creature, he claimed,resembled a human being but was monkey like. It was walking on two legs and not a gorilla, baboon, monkey or any known species (presumably the guy grew up in the jungle area). My view is let’s not assume that the johore Hominid story is a hoax and dismiss it. We may be unravelling something very interesting about the history of the Southeast Asian Region; personally i do not care if the Hominid story comes out true or false. but as a scientist, i feel obliged to throw a word of caution. this cvould be one of the biggest findings of the century. My suggestion to Dr Vincent is that if you think you can make money out of this, then it is from the hair. The background of your hominid pioctures (assuming they are genuine)could be helpful if it fits the SPECIFIC location in the jungle you claim to have sighted the creature. But as a serious researcher, let me tell you bluntly, this one is not going to make you filthy rich. Sharing the knowledge and proving your findings will put you in the world’s who’s who in scientific discoveries. Choose your path wisely lest you be branded a hoax monger by the doubters who (naturally) will outnumber those who are willoing to verify and help yuo search. Contact the local universities and the special branch for DNA verification. otherwise do not waste anybody’s time anymore.
Earth to truistique: the Johor hominid pictures were hoaxes.
As for knowledge to share and working with universities, not much is there. The photographed and cast “footprints” appear to have been made by rhinos or are otherwise cases of mistaken identity.
I doubt that the hair results in anything; this leaves a few instances of sightings, which may or may not be valid. If one assumes that some fraction of the sightings are legitimate, then there remains some sliver of possibility that an undocumented species of large primate awaits discovery by Chow or Noll or communist rebels or whoever is out there looking for it or is otherwise most likely to stumble across its path.