Rock Apes
Rock Apes, also known as Batutut or Nguoi Rung, are believed to live in Vietnam and specifically the Vu Qang nature reserve. To the Vietnamese, they are considered a kind of Bigfoot. So where did the name ‘Rock Apes’ come from? Soldiers stationed in Vietnam during the war nicknamed them that.
Although not quite as large as the North American bigfoot, they are still of significant height, between 5 and 6 feet. They are usually described as red or brown hair that covers their entire, often muscular body. Their limbs can sometimes appear gangly or overly long and are often compared to orangutans. And, of course, they walk on two legs.
So - where does the rock part come in? According to some records the Rock Apes had a tendency to throw rocks at people and buildings - sometimes playfully, and sometimes in warning.
It is said that, normally, they are very gentle creatures that live in groups deep within the forest. However, the ravages of war drove people into their habitats and even, potentially, had some scrambling for new places to live.
US Army Sergeant Kregg Jorgenson even wrote a book with an eyewitness account of one of the creatures in Strange but True Stories of the Vietnam War.
“It was a hot day. The six men from the 101st Airborne Division were taking a break in the middle of a mountainous jungle when the event took place. They had been carrying 100 pounds equipment under the unforgiving sun in a mosquito infested environment, full of unfamiliar sounds and views that were nothing like the American soldiers were used to in their native land. Despite the momentary resting time, they kept their five senses on, for they were aware that the Vietcong could have very well tracked them, something the natives were exceedingly good at. Suddenly, according to the men, a few small trees located fifteen yards uphill began clearly shaking. The soldiers had trained for this, and as they got ready for combat to fight the expected VC soldiers jumping out the bushes, they never imagined what they saw next.
“A long, cucumber-shaped head showed up. The face, the soldiers said, was covered in red hair with a pair of dark eyes and a huge mouth. The creature then stepped out of the vegetation into a clearing, allowing the group to observe the rest of its muscular body, which was also featured by the same type of red hair. It wasn’t taller than five feet and walked upright. It stopped, looked at them as though scrutinizing each of the soldiers.”
“What the hell is that?” one of the soldiers recalls muttering.
“It’s an orangutan, isn’t it?” asked another.
“Well if it is, then he’s lost, because there ain’t no orangutans in Vietnam.”
Dr. John MacKinnon claims to have formally discovered and recorded the Rock Ape in 1970, when he discovered its tracks.
Tran Hong Viet, a professor at Pedagogic University of Hanoi reported in 1982 finding similar footprints to those of MacKinnon in 1970 and made casts of them.
Thank you so much to Adam S. for suggesting this blogstonishing topic!
The blog image is of Vu Quang National Park, courtesy of TienPhong News