Cold feet over hunt for Bigfoot

By MEERA VIJAYAN

JOHOR BARU: With all the hype about Bigfoot, one would have thought that the Forestry Department would be swarmed with people wanting to track down the mystical creature.

The department even printed 500 forms for people to apply to enter the forest in search of Bigfoot.

But there are no takers.

“We thought that with all the interest in Bigfoot, we would have a lot of enquiries from the public. However, this is not the case,” State Forestry Department director Che Hashim Hassan said.

“At any time, we have 25 rangers patrolling the area in Kahang, even at night,” he said.

“They have neither spotted Bigfoot nor trespassers.”

The department has not organised tours to take adventure seekers into the forest with the hope of seeing Bigfoot.

“We have not seen compelling evidence on the existence of Bigfoot. I don’t think we will be organising such tours,” Che Hashim added.

He also said that those interested in entering the state's permanent forest reserves totalling 368,821ha would have to apply for a permit at the cost of RM150 per entry.

The applicant is allowed to bring as many people into the forest as long as the names of those entering as well as their IC numbers are submitted at the time of application.

Bigfoot stories began appearing in the media in December and several expeditions had been organised since.

People claimed to have heard distinctive howling emanating from the jungle in the wee hours of the morning and to have seen the creature’s footprints.

Che Hashim showing the forest entry permit form, 500 of which have been printed. Despite all the excitement about Bigfoot, no one has approached the Forestry Department for the form. Asked if it was possible that people were entering the forests illegally, Che Hashim said his forest rangers had not seen anyone.

Malaysia promotes Bigfoot hunt

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) - Apparently, nobody wants to meet Bigfoot.

The Malaysian Forestry Department says there are no takers for permits on offer to explore a protected forest for the mythical creature, despite initial excitement over reported sightings of the beast, The Star newspaper reported Wednesday.

Authorities printed 500 application forms anticipating a rush, but none has been filled, Che Hashim Hassan, the department's director in the southern state of Johor, was quoted as saying.

The Malaysian media has been gripped by Bigfoot fever since November 2005, when fish farm workers reported seeing three giant human-like creatures in the Endau Rompin park in Johor. They also claimed to have seen a gigantic footprint.

Park officials combed the site but found no physical evidence of a Bigfoot. However, they recorded more reports of sightings from aboriginal villagers who live on the park's fringes.

"We thought that with all the interest in Bigfoot, we would have a lot of inquiries from the public," Che Hashim said. "However, this is not the case."

He said forest rangers patrolled the jungle boundaries at night, but have not heard or seen any evidence of the purported gigantic beast, and did not plan to capitalize on the craze by organizing forest tours for adventure seekers.

Officials weren't immediately available for further details.

Johor state officials said in January that they planned to send a team of scientists and researchers alongside a routine scientific expedition into the forest park to track the creature down. Officials did not reveal a date for the expedition.

"Bigfoot" is a popular name given in the United States to giant hairy creatures walking on two legs. Sightings of such beasts have been reported in many parts of the world but their existence has never been proven.

Tourism officials said they planned to use the interest in Bigfoot to draw tourists to Malaysia. Wildlife rangers said they may set up camera traps in the jungle to capture images of the creature.

Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2006 09:01:46 +0800 [Malaysian time] To: Loren Coleman Subject: Re: Application Request

Dear Loren,

Referring to the mentioned matter, please contact:

Department of Wildlife and National Parks 10th km, Jalan Cheras, 56100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tel : 603 9075 2872

or please log in to www.wildlife.gov.my

Regards, Wahayu Abdul Wahab Head of PR Unit Forest Research Institute of Malaysia 52109 Kepong Selangor Darul Ehsan