Bigfoot
Encounters
"Strange Hairy Creature Reported on the East Coast
Believed by some to be a gorilla"
Persistent
reports from Coromandel Peninsula say that a strange hairy creature thought
by some to be a gorilla lurks at the back of the Wai Aro, in the wild bush
country of the Moehau Range. When Dr. Roy Norman, Waikawau and Mr. Douglas
Taiwahana, North Auckland were pig hunting in the area, they said they caught
a fleeting glimpse of a hairy man or possible a gorilla running along a bush
track.
Mr. F.
W. Wenzlick, Amadeo Bay said tonight that about 30 years ago a ship was lying
off Wai Aro which had a young gorilla as mascot. The animal left the ship
and got ashore. Since then there have been repeated rumors of strange occurrences
in the hills. Stories deal with night intrusions into camps, dogs bristling
and snarling because of a strange presence and mysterious foot-falls in the
bush. A hunter,
Mr. H. Beazley has found a cave with evidence of a man or beast living under
primitive conditions which contained bones of animals presumably eaten raw
and collections of shells.
It was possible but highly improbably that the "strange hairy being" believe to be lurking in the Moehau Ranges
was a gorilla or in fact any species of the ape family, the director, R. W.
Roach of the Auckland zoo said tonight.
If the strange creature did exist
it was more probably a member of the baboon family. He would regard the story
as more feasible if someone had discovered footmarks or nest in the tree-tops
very much larger than that made by any known bird. Mr. Roach completely discounted
any suggestions that the cave that had been discovered by Beazley was likely
to have been the home of the creature.
All members of the monkey families
lived in nests built in the tree tops although they spent most of their time
on the ground, he said.
Another
article (undated) but related to the Moehau creature was sent to me from Ron
Schaffner.
"Tourists
Tail Beast"The hunt
for the elusive silver beet bandit, the Great Hair Moehau, believed lurking
in the dense brush on the West Coast is taking to the air. Coast publican
Les Lisle is organizing Helicopter forays in the area for excited Japanese
tourists arms with cameras gunning for a glimpse of the legendary creature.
Sunday
News reported last week that a startled Les, while enjoying a cuppa in the
kitchen of his Lake Mahinapua pub, spotted the critter’s dawn raid on
his veggie patch. When Les yelled out, the man-ape - - believe descended from
pre-Maori Melanesian settlers and described in sightings over many years as
shy gentle and retreating and secretive – scampered into the misty bush
with an armful of Les’ silver beets. Busloads of tourists, mainly Japanese
always stop at the Lake Mahinapua pub, just south of Hokitika, en route to
southern glaciers, Fox and Franz. "I got the idea when an animated group
of Japanese pointed at the Sunday News Story pinned on the notice board, Les
said.
Their translator
explained and they asked if they could hunt the Kiwi Godzilla (they called
it) in a helicopter. The Japanese love monsters. Take Godzilla – they
have TV re-runs in Japan every week. So Les is discussing the project with
a mate, local chopper pilot Mark Reid. We reckon that a Hughes 500 carrying
four to six passengers is the answer Les continued. Fifty buck a head for
a ten-minute spin is a good deal – they’ll love it. Ark can take
along his tranquilizer rifle and when we spot the Moehau man-ape – bingo!
We’ll make a mint mate.
© The Taranaki Daily News, Tuesday, 5 February 1952
Press Assoc. Auckland, NZ
Source:
Both news articles courtesy Ron Schaffner
- ---
Back to Creatures?
Back to What's New?
Back to Newspaper & Magazine Articles?
Home/Main