New 6 foot tall specie of Ape found in Congo, Big foot anyone

[Zapages]

'New' giant ape found in DR Congo


The new ape has some gorilla characteristics

Scientists believe they have discovered a new group of giant apes in the jungles of central Africa.

The animals, with characteristics of both gorillas and chimpanzees, have been sighted in the north of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to local villagers, the apes are ferocious, and even capable of killing lions.

The UK magazine New Scientist is to publish its report about the mysterious creatures next week.

If they are a new species of primate, it could be one of the most important wildlife discoveries in decades.

The discovery of these apes "reveals just how much we still have to learn about our closest living relatives," New Scientist says.

'NEW' GIANT APE
Large, black faces (like gorillas)
Up to two metres tall (6.5ft)
Weigh 85kg-102kg (187lb-224lb)
Males make nests on the ground (like gorillas)
Diet rich in fruit (like chimps)



They stand up to two metres tall, the size of gorillas, and like gorillas, they nest on the ground, not in trees.

But they live hundreds of kilometres away from any other known gorilla populations, and their diet is closer to that of chimpanzees.

Primatologist Shelly Williams is thought to be the only scientist to have seen the apes.



During her visit to DR Congo two years ago, she says she captured them on video and located their nests.

She describes her encounter with them: "Four suddenly came rushing out of the bush towards me," she told New Scientist.

"If this had been a bluff charge, they would have been screaming to intimidate us. These guys were quiet. And they were huge. They were coming in for the kill. I was directly in front of them, and as soon as they saw my face, they stopped and disappeared."

Mystery

The discovery has baffled scientists.

There are three controversial possibilities to explain the origin of the mystery apes:

• They are a new species of ape
  
• They are giant chimpanzees, much larger than any so far recorded, but behave like gorillas
  
• They could be hybrids, the product of gorillas mating with chimpanzees.
  

So far, researchers have little to go on, but they now plan to return to northern DR Congo to study the apes further.

In the meantime, there are fears that unless measures are taken to protect them, poaching could threaten this new group of primates before the mystery of their identity is resolved. "This is a lawless area," says Kenyan-based Swiss photographer Karl Ammann, who tipped Ms Williams off about the apes. "The government has practically no control over hunting. If we found something interesting it would attract more investment. People would be more interested in conserving it."

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Source BBC News

[Shnay]

Obviously, we will someday have to fight these apes with laser guns amongst ancient ruins.

[Kenshin]

Originally Posted by Shnay

Obviously, we will someday have to fight these apes with laser guns amongst ancient ruins.

didnt that same exact thing happen with zebras in 1978?

i think the apes are kind of creepy looking... i bet those are the tings people are mistaking for big foot.

[SSJPabs]

Originally Posted by screwball

didnt that same exact thing happen with zebras in 1978?

i think the apes are kind of creepy looking... i bet those are the tings people are mistaking for big foot.

The Himalayas? In the Pacific-Northwest?

Okay, maybe the Himalayas I can understand but we have no evidence of anything like that in North America.

[Lord Dalek]

Originally Posted by Shnay

Obviously, we will someday have to fight these apes with laser guns amongst ancient ruins.

I wanna do a Charlton Heston impersonation right now but.... nah.

[Gentleman Ghost]

Pretty cool. I'm fascinated whenever previously unknown species of animals are discovered. New animals are discovered quite often actually.

[Shnay]

Originally Posted by Lord Dalek

I wanna do a Charlton Heston impersonation right now but.... nah.

Actually, I was going for a Congo reference, but that works too.

[Lord Dalek]

Originally Posted by Shnay

Actually, I was going for a Congo reference, but that works too.

Well aside from Bruce Campbell, there's noone worth impersonating in Congo.

[Artimus Gigan]

I wonder...could they play basket ball...

an entire team of super apes...

each with the strength of one gorillia!

[EinBebop]

[Martianinvader]

It's not Bigfoot...an elderly couple recently confessed to creating many Bigfoot "evidences," they showed their footprint markers.

And if a gorilla/chimpanzee hybrid creates a Bigfoot creature, you'd still be out of luck....there are no wild monkeys in Oregon!

[Sparticus]

Wow, cool!

[Artimus Gigan]

Originally Posted by Martianinvader

there are no wild monkeys in Oregon!

You obviously havn't visted Lord Dalek's family...

[Alex Toon]

Originally Posted by Lord Dalek

I wanna do a Charlton Heston impersonation right now but.... nah.

[a`la Charlton Heston] Damn you! Damn you all to hell!!

[PaQ]

Hmm, that's an interesting discovery. Although I laugh it's like most of it's characteristics are of Gorillas, yet because of it's diet isn't similar they don't exactly catagorize it as a Gorilla. Still interesting, but doesn't explain Big Foot with the location.

[Lord Dalek]

Originally Posted by Artimus Gigan

You obviously havn't visted Lord Dalek's family...

Atie =

[Evil & Lovin It]

Hmm giant apes... I'll have to genetically engineer them to make a super army...
On second thought, maybe later...