ORANG PENDEK: Sumatra's Forgotten Ape Paperback – November 1, 2011

Orang-pendek is a mysterious short bipedal ape thought to live in the jungles of Sumatra. It is one of the most likely cryptozoological creatures not only because of the high number of clear and concise reports from reliable eyewitnesses and numerous findings of physical traces the creatures leave, but also because of the fact that the environment in question possesses excellent conditions for such a creature and the local orang-utans represent clear examples of relatives to the creatures.The first part of the book describes orang-pendek and discusses various eyewitness reports.The second part of the book discusses various similar creatures reported from all over the world. Some are, as the author acknowledges, of questionable authenticity but many others are quite well supported.The third part of the book describes the author's own trips to Sumatra in search of the orang-pendek. Interestingly enough, a couple of his companions actually saw an orang-pendek and the team managed to successfully collect what appeared to be orang-pendek hairs.The author considers the orang-pendek to be an undiscovered species of orang-utan, that evolved a ground dwelling lifestyle and bipedal gait. Near the end of the book there are some brief speculations on the evolutionary events that led to orang-pendek. I find the author's reasoning to be quite sound and share his view that the orang-pendek is most likely a type of orang-utan. Undiscovered orang-utan species are probably also the most likely candidates for the identity for a number of other Asian mystery primates, such as the yeh-teh (common yeti), as well.Contrary to some opinions, it is extremely unlikely orang-pendek is a surviving Homo floresiensis, as beyond its bipedal gait its features are not at all human-like. However, the book does briefly discuss another mystery creature from Sumatra called the orang-kardil, who are far more human-like in both appearance and behaviour (they, for instance, make tools and fire and live in small tribes). It is possible that the orang-kardil are in fact a small surviving population of Homo floresiensis.One of the most interesting things in the book is the final appendix, where the hair samples from Sumatra, thought to have come from an orang-pendek, are compared to the hair of various primates and non-primates from both Sumatra and elsewhere. As it turned out the hair collected was different from all the hairs it was compared to. This provides further support for the idea that there could well be an undiscovered ape species living in the jungles of Sumatra.

Orang-Pendek: Sumatra’s Forgotten Ape, is Richard Freeman’s account of several expeditions made to Indonesia in search of small hairy ape-men; like most products of the CFZ Press, however, it’s not that simple. You are getting two books; the first is a 200 page global survey of undersized, mostly hairy, “littlefoots”. The second concerns the expeditions, and both are supplemented by more or less relevant, but interesting, appendices.Sumatra’s jungles are not the wild paradises Ivan Sanderson used to write about, but sadder places, being chewed relentlessly away by coffee plantations and lumbering; the food is wretched, traveling back and forth tedious or terrifying, and moving through the jungle so physically demanding that the author vomits from exhaustion. This is not a Boy’s Own adventure, but a slog through leech-infested mud, yet the researchers and their guides get results, including hairs, footprints, hand-prints, and even a sighting; an orang-pendek in a tree apparently trying to avoid being seen.The reader is left with the impression of a rare but perfectly real animal, the existence of which could be proven by a concerted, reasonably funded, effort (of course, a lot of cryptids give that impression). While its discovery would be of tremendous importance, the orang-pendek also seems like a rather scruffy creature compared to Sumatra’s awe-inspiring tigers. This is consistent with the matter-of-fact tone of the book, which, despite everything, will make you want to go orang-pendek hunting.

This book is not for kids in case you intend to buy it for your kids. It has sex stories. Ridiculous that it doesn’t mention it.

Good book. Highly recommend.

Richard Freeman has done what few people have - chased his cryptozoological quarries to all four corners of the globe with a tenaciousness and singlemindedness shared by few.This book is the culmination of his many years' worth of expeditions to the Indonesian island of Sumatra in search of the so-called Orang pendek (literally meaning 'short person' in the native tongue), thought to be an unknown species of ape and reported since the Dutch first set foot on indonesian soil and - temporarily - claimed the territory for their own.Richard has spoken to just about anyone and everyone who has had anything to do with tracking this Southern Hemisphere enigma. And - I should declare this upfront - I myself have accompanied him on one of his expeditions and can attest it's not for the faint-hearted (or the unfit!).While concrete definitive evidence of the animal remains, for now, elusive, it can't be far off. On an island that still harbours an amazing diversity of creatures that includes leopards, tigers, orangutans, rhinos and many others, an undiscovered species of ape isn't as far-fetched as it might otherwise sound.I wholeheartedly recommend this book - the most comprehensive study to date on the Orang pendek.