Full Version: The Ropen
I heard of this unknown Flying Reptile in New Guinie,its a predatoryl bird,that is thought to live in the Caves and Bunkers that the soldiers dug out in the mountains in war......than on this show Destination Truth,they search one and they find Human Bones,small animals,a large nest of military supplies,and wood an all that,its odd,any more info? Phots? Vids? heres a link for more info on it that i found so far.http://www.meta-religion.com/Paranormale/Cryptozoology/Birds/ropen.htm
QUOTE(Drathian666 @ Jun 21 2007, 12:05 PM) 
I heard of this unknown Flying Reptile in New Guinie,its a predatoryl bird,that is thought to live in the Caves and Bunkers that the soldiers dug out in the mountains in war......than on this show Destination Truth,they search one and they find Human Bones,small animals,a large nest of military supplies,and wood an all that,its odd,any more info? Phots? Vids? heres a link for more info on it that i found so far.http://www.meta-religion.com/Paranormale/Cryptozoology/Birds/ropen.htm
I'd never heard of this "bird" before this show, but I believe it's on the SciFi channel, so I fully expect the show to be a piece-o-crap, especially beacuse they use the word "truth" in the title.
QUOTE
but I believe it's on the SciFi channel, so I fully expect the show to be a piece-o-crap
I love the piece of crap sci-fi originals!! bad special efffect and all!
Drath, Your from Chicago; Have you ever heard about the Piasa? click
I see now what Draconic Chronicler's been talking about! He talked about how some cryptids vary in description as the years go by (i.e. Nessie was reported to be a dragon, nowadays it's a plesiosaur, dragons and pelsiosaurs are very different, non?). About 10 years ago, I know about Ropen for the first time...and everywhere I read, it was actually described as a giant BAT!
The ropen might be a stork or heron-type bird that's been misidentified. From a distance, with wings outstretched, someone might think it's a pterosaur.
I've always had an interest in the ropen, but it is probably just an over sized bat or a horn bill. Here is a quick description of the Ropen from Wikipedia. They also mention the Destination Truth investigation
The Ropen is a flying cryptid alleged to live in the vicinity of Papua New Guinea. Umboi Island is one particular locale it is believed to inhabit. Ropens are the subject of folklore but are believed by some natives to be real animals rather than spirits or mere mythology. Descriptions vary, but it is often said to be batlike, or more intriguingly, Pterosaur-like. The Ropen is believed to be nocturnal and to exhibit Bioluminescence. Purportedly it lives on a diet of fish.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ropen
The Ropen is a flying cryptid alleged to live in the vicinity of Papua New Guinea. Umboi Island is one particular locale it is believed to inhabit. Ropens are the subject of folklore but are believed by some natives to be real animals rather than spirits or mere mythology. Descriptions vary, but it is often said to be batlike, or more intriguingly, Pterosaur-like. The Ropen is believed to be nocturnal and to exhibit Bioluminescence. Purportedly it lives on a diet of fish.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ropen
Here's what I have found on the Ropen.
The whole story here.
QUOTE(AmericanMonsters.com)
Tales of the Ropen began to circulate shortly following World War II, when the first western missionaries began to penetrate deep into the jungles of Papua New Guinea. Described as having leathery wings - with a span of approximately 4-feet, although some accounts have graced these animals with a light aircraft challenging span of up to 21-feet (a feature which many believe belongs to this animal's avian cousin, the DUAH), a narrow, tooth-filled beak, webbed feet, a head crest and a long tail, which culminates in a diamond-shaped flange, it is no wonder that many fortean investigators have started looking to the presumed extinct flying reptiles known as pterosaurs - in particular the long-tailed Rhamphorynchoid - as a possible answer to this winged enigma.
Much feared by the natives of Papua New Guinea - as well as the Solomon Islands - it is said that the Ropen live a primarily nocturnal, bat-like existence deep within the mountainous caves which are found throughout Rambunzo and Umboi. That having been said, these animals are renowned scavengers with a purportedly excellent sense of smell, and there has been more than one account of these avian atrocities attacking funeral processions in order to devour the corpse. This taste for decaying human flesh is a trait which the Ropen share with their African cousins the KONGAMATO.
As recently August of 1996, investigators from the Creation Evidence Museum have claimed to have seen these animals with their own eyes. Most startling are the reports, catalogued by cryptozoological researcher Carl Baugh, of these animals displaying at sort of bioluminescent glow on their chest (and occasionally on their tails) during their nocturnal feeding frenzies. Skeptics, of course, insist that these creatures are nothing more than large fruit bats.
Much feared by the natives of Papua New Guinea - as well as the Solomon Islands - it is said that the Ropen live a primarily nocturnal, bat-like existence deep within the mountainous caves which are found throughout Rambunzo and Umboi. That having been said, these animals are renowned scavengers with a purportedly excellent sense of smell, and there has been more than one account of these avian atrocities attacking funeral processions in order to devour the corpse. This taste for decaying human flesh is a trait which the Ropen share with their African cousins the KONGAMATO.
As recently August of 1996, investigators from the Creation Evidence Museum have claimed to have seen these animals with their own eyes. Most startling are the reports, catalogued by cryptozoological researcher Carl Baugh, of these animals displaying at sort of bioluminescent glow on their chest (and occasionally on their tails) during their nocturnal feeding frenzies. Skeptics, of course, insist that these creatures are nothing more than large fruit bats.
The whole story here.
I havent heard of the Piasa before,now yea most stuff thats on scifi is bs,and if they ever did find anything itd be all over the news,thats why i usually dont bother watching that stuff,it could be a giant bat,or there may be a dinosaur that MAY have survived...highly unlikely tho ( sadly ).
A fellow called Jonathan Whitcomb is the leading researching authority in this field. He has a creationist agenda which unfortunatly taints the strong effort he puts into attempting to uncover these cryptids.
No to be confused with the suspected Giant Flying Fox cryptid, the Ahool, the ropen is a suspected surviving species of Pterosaur supposedly found as Rosenrot has stated, PNG, they are also supposed to exist in Africs (by name of Kongamato) and South America. Some theorise Mothman is a Pterosaur.
Here you can find the esteemed Mr. Whitrcombs site, I recommend it, far be it from me to promote creationism in any way whatsoever, however, the large amount of evidence this fellow has gathered is very impressive. To see the adverse conditions one must undertake in order to search these habitats, one can at least admire the determination and conviction.
There are several interviews with PNG naitives and some compelling evidence in relation to the Bioluminesence the creatures are said to emit at night. There is a tale or two of them stealing carrion as well. It is interesting that te naitives are actually describing the diet of the creature to be remarkably similar to what paleontologists theorise Pterosaurs diet was. The site is a thourough one and a good read.
Interesting cryptid. Quite some reports have surfaced.
No to be confused with the suspected Giant Flying Fox cryptid, the Ahool, the ropen is a suspected surviving species of Pterosaur supposedly found as Rosenrot has stated, PNG, they are also supposed to exist in Africs (by name of Kongamato) and South America. Some theorise Mothman is a Pterosaur.
Here you can find the esteemed Mr. Whitrcombs site, I recommend it, far be it from me to promote creationism in any way whatsoever, however, the large amount of evidence this fellow has gathered is very impressive. To see the adverse conditions one must undertake in order to search these habitats, one can at least admire the determination and conviction.
There are several interviews with PNG naitives and some compelling evidence in relation to the Bioluminesence the creatures are said to emit at night. There is a tale or two of them stealing carrion as well. It is interesting that te naitives are actually describing the diet of the creature to be remarkably similar to what paleontologists theorise Pterosaurs diet was. The site is a thourough one and a good read.
Interesting cryptid. Quite some reports have surfaced.
Uh, Pysche, just to let you know...I went to the place, Mt. Salak, where the Ahool was supposed to live, you know what I get? Most of villagers and natives NEVER heard of the story! I guess it's a political play on Dutch East Indie's governement back then to either claim this land or the resources within, I dunno what exactly tho...
Oh, several months ago there was a thread almost like this one. I proposed the theory of an oversized giant flying fox...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megabat
Man, I got alot of these Flying foxes in my town!
And oh, here's something
http://www.newanimal.org/gbats.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megabat
Man, I got alot of these Flying foxes in my town!
And oh, here's something
http://www.newanimal.org/gbats.htm
QUOTE(psyche101 @ Jun 22 2007, 02:22 AM)
No to be confused with the suspected Giant Flying Fox cryptid, the Ahool, the ropen is a suspected surviving species of Pterosaur supposedly found as Rosenrot has stated, PNG, they are also supposed to exist in Africs (by name of Kongamato) and South America.
Its hard to believe that, even if it is a surviving relative of the pterosaur, that it would look anything like a pterosaur after 65 million years.
QUOTE(capoeiranger @ Jun 23 2007, 03:07 AM)
Uh, Pysche, just to let you know...I went to the place, Mt. Salak, where the Ahool was supposed to live, you know what I get? Most of villagers and natives NEVER heard of the story! I guess it's a political play on Dutch East Indie's governement back then to either claim this land or the resources within, I dunno what exactly tho...
You're right. I asked a friend who knows Mt. Salak and he never heard of ahool... we could be wrong though, hopefully
I noticed (from websites) there's quite a lot of hiking and climbing activites there. If the ahool really exists, some of the hikers might have come across one or two..
The Ropen seen by foreigners in PNG could well be the frigate bird
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odRXeRIL3Ew
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7WJ8oQ20ac
though I doubt the locals couldn't differentiate something unkown from frigate birds. Maybe.
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