We're back from the jungle!

The team en route to the forest - it was no easy slog!

The team arrived home in dribs and drabs over the weekend - Holland, the UK and Australia - tired but elated from two weeks of hard yakka in the jungle looking for one of the Southern Hemisphere's most interesting cryptids: Orang Pendek.

Between us all we have dozens of game trail camera images, prints and photographs to analyse and send off for expert analysis. It was a fruitful trip!

This was despite frequent illness, torrential rain, language barriers and negotiating harsh terrain on a daily basis. Thankfully everyone has arrived home safe - and had a great time to boot.

Here's the official release:

UNIQUE DISCOVERY FURTHERS THE CASE FOR EXISTANCE OF ORANG PENDEK

A ten strong team led by Adam Davies has built upon the existing evidence for Orang Pendek – the “short man of the forest” in Western Sumatra. They have just returned from a two week expedition with what could be the world’s first handprint of the creature. This of course requires independent expert verification and although there are similarities to previous prints, it is still unlike any other verified so far.

The international team constituted:
extreme-expedition members Adam Davies and Andrew Sanderson, (UK)
Members of the CFZ (Centre for Fortean Zoology) Richard Freeman, Dr Chris Clark, Lisa Dowley and Jon McGowan (UK),
Rebecca Lang and Mike Williams (Australia CFZ),
Independent field researchers Tim De Friel and Dave Archer.
Notably Archer witnessed the Orang Pendek in the flesh on expedition in the same area in 2009.

The expedition concentrated its searches around Lake Kerinci and the “gardens” area in the lower elevation rainforest, both areas of previous sightings and secondary evidence. Whereas the “gardens” team returned with three partial footprints, the possible handprint, was found in the jungle surrounding Lake Kerinci.

The print is to be sent for independent analysis, but furthers the body of evidence for Orang Pendek. Unidentifiable hairs also found in the immediate vicinity are to undergo similar independent testing.

Upon completion, expedition leader Adam Davies stated “This was a really successful expedition. I am fortunate to have had such a determined and dedicated team and feel confident that the findings, once analysed, will help further verify the existence of Orang Pendek, whose habitat is under great ecological pressure.”

Stay tuned for more updates!