In Search of the Malaysian Setontot
Posted by: Loren Coleman on February 13th, 2006
The Bernama news service is reporting that the startling new discoveries in the Foja Mountains of Papua, Indonesia, are good news for the possible discovery of Bigfoot in Malaysia. But also, there is the hint of a new cryptid in this news.
The Endau-Rompin National Park, bordering Johor and Pahang, now has an increased possibility for "new species" discoveries, the Indonesia government declares, since all the Malaysian search activity noted here at Cryptomundo in recent months: sightings, footprint finds, and expeditions. Of all variables, the most encouraging has been the official government’s open-minded and even-handed approach, with national and regional support of the hunt for these unknown hairy hominoids.
Bernama reporter Mohd Haikal Mohd Isa writes:
A local biodiversity and environment expert Vincent Chow said he was highly optimistic of such discovery at the 250 million year old nature reserve because so far only 10 percent of the area was studied by the scientific community.
"There are many ‘surprises’ awaiting [us] including the possibility of discovering " ‘Bigfoot’ or ‘Orang Mawas.’ There are still many forest and mountain range in the country that is yet to be explored by humans up to now, including the Orang Asli who dwell there," said Chow who created a sensation last December [2005] when he revealed the possible existence of a creature similar to the Bigfoot in the western part of the park.
Chow told the reporter that
…the Orang Asli community residing in the Endau-Rompin national park claimed that many times they had come across animals that are difficult to identify. The Orang Asli dwelling in Selai, the entry point to the western part of the reserve, once claimed that they had come across an animal known as the "Setontot" that creeps on the forest floor.
What is the Setontot? A new mystery primate? An unknown cryptid feline? A rainforest herbivore, like the saola of the "Lost World" of Laos-Vietnam, yet to be discovered?
Chow also discussed how 92 new species of fish have been found there, several unknown at the park.
"Prof Tyson Robert from the American Academy of Science, a renowned Southeast Asia fresh water fish expert, had concurred that the species found by our group can be categorised as primitive or fossil fishes," said Chow.
But what is the Setontot? Any readers have information on this new cryptid?
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.
A primate can pretty much be ruled out. Probably not a herbivore.
You can find an Article (in german) to the Setontot here.