JOHOR BARU: The website set up for discussion on the local
Bigfoot has been closed for maintenance, and two major players in
the search for the creature are making conflicting statements about
photos related to the phenomenon.
These dramatic developments came about after www.johorhominid.org
released a photo yesterday that it claimed was an actual shot of a
female Bigfoots eyes.
The posting of the photo came days after the website had released a
sketch of what it claimed were the eyes of a female Bigfoot.
According to the website, the photo had been provided by the Johor
Wildlife Protection Association (JWPA).
It also threw a challenge to visitors, offering RM1,200 to anyone
who could find a match of the photograph or prove beyond doubt that
it was a hoax.
In addition, it said, the successful individual stood to receive
free accommodation for two nights and three days at a five-star
hotel, plus a guided tour to sites in Johors rainforest where the
Bigfoot was likely to be seen.
According to the website, the photo had been posted to attract the
attention of more serious researchers and to get them to provide
views on the issue.
It said biodiversity researcher Vincent Chow, a co-founder of the
website, had obtained the JWPAs permission to use it.
The photo is a big breakthrough, it said.
However, at around 6pm, a visitor to the website posted a full-head
shot of a creature in the comment page, which showed the same
bloodshot eyes featured in the first photo.
You have no credibility left! Habis! (Finished!), the visitor
wrote, adding that the full-head shot had been obtained from
another website.
At close to 7pm, the once-active www.johorhominid.org site was
closed, and there was a notice stating that it was down for
maintenance.
Meanwhile, it is uncertain what the photo it had posted earlier
actually showed.
When contacted, website co-founder Sean Ang said: We have closed
down the site to investigate the matter.
JWPA secretary Tay Teng Hwa said the association had never released
any photos to anyone.
We will release photos of Bigfoot in a book that will be launched
soon. Who said we gave them any photographs? he said.