A Huge Amazon Monster Is Only a Myth. Or Is It?

New York Times ^ | 08 July 2007 | Larry Rohter

[BGHater]

RIO BRANCO, Brazil — Perhaps it is nothing more than a legend, as skeptics say. Or maybe it is real, as those who claim to have seen it avow. But the mere mention of the mapinguary, the giant slothlike monster of the Amazon, is enough to send shivers down the spines of almost all who dwell in the world’s largest rain forest.

The folklore here is full of tales of encounters with the creature, and nearly every Indian tribe in the Amazon, including those that have had no contact with one another, have a word for the mapinguary (pronounced ma-ping-wahr-EE). The name is usually translated as “the roaring animal” or “the fetid beast.”

So widespread and so consistent are such accounts that in recent years a few scientists have organized expeditions to try to find the creature. They have not succeeded, but at least one says he can explain the beast and its origins.

“It is quite clear to me that the legend of the mapinguary is based on human contact with the last of the ground sloths,” thousands of years ago, said David Oren, a former director of research at the Goeldi Institute in Belém, at the mouth of the Amazon River. “We know that extinct species can survive as legends for hundreds of years. But whether such an animal still exists or not is another question, one we can’t answer yet.”

Dr. Oren said he had talked to “a couple of hundred people” who had said they had seen the mapinguary in the most remote parts of the Amazon and a handful who had said they had had direct contact.

[Inyo-Mono]

Thanks! Keep ‘em coming pcottraux!

[B-Chan]

THE DREADED CANDIRÚ!!!

[Cringing Negativism Network]

I’m sorry. I was not intending to be quite as ignorant in my post as it came across as.

Still not sure I agree with the assessment of the young ladies’ ages, but I’m feeling some regret about having expressed appreciation too frankly.

Sorry to all. :)

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks pcottraux.

"It is quite clear to me that the legend of the mapinguary is based on human contact with the last of the ground sloths," thousands of years ago, said David Oren, a former director of research at the Goeldi Institute in Belem, at the mouth of the Amazon River. "We know that extinct species can survive as legends for hundreds of years. But whether such an animal still exists or not is another question, one we can't answer yet."

Related -- a variety of lemurs, including a gorilla-sized giant lemur, were ubiquitous on Madagascar; a number, including the giant species, were hunted out by the no-doubt-western-influenced humans who swarmed onto the island sometime in the past 2000 years. It's a marvel to me that human presence isn't older, but hey, I haven't checked lately, maybe it is...

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[texas booster]

Please toss me on this ping list.

I love unexplained mysteries.

Like my teenage daughters. Can anyone explain how they think?

[Sawdring]

A +Bert ?

I haven't seen that screen name for awhile. Does he still post here under different names?

[Pelham]

I always found A+Bert amusing. I’m betting whoever banned him is now over at SoundAsleep.com.

[Scotswife]

“Like my teenage daughters. Can anyone explain how they think?”

It depends on the level of hormones.

[CholeraJoe]

The lemurs were hunted because they tasted exactly like Buffalo chicken wings.

[SunkenCiv]

Ah, here it is, “recipe for Madagascar chicken”... huh? What the-

[evets]

[television is just wrong]

lol, monster is pigeon toed.

[SunkenCiv]

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[SunkenCiv]

Amazon Monster Is Only a Myth. Or Is It? (Bigfoot sightings in Brazil)
AOL News | July 8, 2007 | Larry Brother
Posted on 07/08/2007 1:52:43 PM PDT by Clintonfatigued
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1862702/posts