Skunk ape (cryptozoology)
The skunk ape is a cryptid reputed to inhabit the forests and swamplands of Florida, primarily concentrated in the Everglades. It is often described as a bipedal creature resembling an orangutan or gorilla, covered in shaggy fur that can vary in color from brown to black. Witnesses frequently mention a strong, unpleasant odor accompanying the skunk ape, reminiscent of decaying matter, which contributes to its name. This creature is seen as a regional variant of the more widely known Bigfoot, with various nicknames such as "Swamp Monster" and "Stink Ape."
Reports of skunk ape sightings have persisted for decades, with a notable increase during the 1960s and 1970s, impacting local culture and politics, including legislative attempts to protect the creature. Despite numerous claims and the establishment of dedicated research efforts, including the Skunk Ape Research Headquarters, the existence of the skunk ape remains unverified, with experts often attributing sightings to misidentified animals, like black bears. The phenomenon continues to spark interest and debate within the realms of cryptozoology and local folklore, illustrating the enduring allure of legendary creatures in popular culture.
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Skunk ape (cryptozoology)
Within cryptozoology, the skunk ape is a mythical creature rumored to inhabit the forests and swamplands of Florida. Alleged sightings of the skunk ape have been reported throughout the state, with most concentrated in the Everglades region in southern Florida. The skunk ape is one of several high-profile hairy bipedal primate cryptids (legendary creatures rumored to exist in folklore, but whose existence is not confirmed by mainstream scientific accounts); others include the Yeti of the Himalayan region of Asia and Sasquatch (also known as Bigfoot) of North America. The skunk ape is often considered a subtype of Bigfoot.
Although the creature is best known as the skunk ape, a variety of other nicknames for this cryptid exist, including "Stink Ape," "Shaawanoki," "Swamp Monkey," "Swamp Man," "Swamp Monster," and "the Bardin Booger." It is the most famous cryptid associated with Florida, and reported sightings and alleged images of the creature are presented regularly, even though Florida park rangers, law enforcement officials, and wildlife experts do not consider it to actually exist. Experts consider such sightings and videos to either represent other animals mistaken for the skunk ape or outright hoaxes.
Background
Rumors of the skunk ape have existed for centuries. Persons who claim to have seen the mysterious creature describe its physical appearance in a relatively consistent manner: a bipedal (upright-walking on two legs) figure that resembles an orangutan or gorilla, covered with shaggy hair or fur that ranges in color from brown to reddish to gray or black. Self-proclaimed witnesses have reporting sighting both male and female individuals, with some physical differences between the two. Males are described as being generally larger, but reports vary in describing heights of four to ten feet tall. A universal feature among all descriptions of the skunk ape among alleged witnesses is the presence of a very strong, foul odor that accompanies the beast. Witnesses describe this stench as resembling that of rotting food or garbage, decaying meat, rotten eggs, or methane. In fact, the name "skunk ape" references the creature’s physical appearance and unpleasant odor. Witnesses often describe this body odor as so overpowering that it makes observers nauseous.
Those who believe in the skunk ape’s existence argue that the Seminole Indians and other indigenous tribal groups of Florida have long had legends of similar creatures, predating contact with European settlers. Cryptozoology enthusiasts have claimed that the term "Shaawanoki" of the Mikasuki language, refers to a legendary apelike creature. However, other reports suggest that this interpretation is mistaken, and the word instead refers to turtles or other established aquatic animals. Nevertheless, the term has taken on a life of its own (regardless of its original meaning) and is commonly used interchangeably with "skunk ape" in cryptozoology lore.
Alleged sightings of the skunk ape have occurred for many years, but such reports were particularly common during the 1960s and 1970s. People spending time in forests and swamplands—such as Boy Scouts, hunters, tourists, and campers—were most likely to claim to have spotted the creature. The surge in alleged sightings during the mid-twentieth century increased the general public’s perception that the skunk ape actually existed and even affected local Florida politics. In October 1977, Florida state representative Hugh Paul Nuckolls, a Republican from Fort Myers, introduced House Bill 1664 (nicknamed the "Skunk Ape Act" by the press) in the Florida State Legislature. The bill sought to establish criminal penalties for anyone committing an act of "taking, possessing, harming, or molesting" any "anthropoid or humanoid animals." Nuckolls’s bill passed the Florida House Criminal Justice Committee but ultimately failed to achieve approval in the legislature. Nuckolls reintroduced his bill in 1978, but it once again failed to become law.
Topic Today
The skunk ape continues to undergo periods of renewed interest, particularly when a new sighting is reported. Dave Shealy, a skunk ape enthusiast who has spent decades searching for the creature, established the Skunk Ape Research Headquarters in Ochopee, Florida, as both a tourist attraction and a site dedicated to those wishing to pursue serious research. Shealy claimed to have first spotted a skunk ape when he was ten years old and hunting with his older brother in the swampland. He later had several other firsthand sightings of the creatures and self-proclaimed himself within cryptozoology and paranormal circles as the leading expert on the skunk ape in Florida and, by extension, the United States as a whole. Shealy’s passion for the creature earned him appearances on several television programs. The Skunk Ape Research Headquarters features photographs claiming to be authentic images of the legendary swamp hominid, plaster casts Shealy made of alleged skunk ape footprints, a campground, boat tours of the surrounding swamplands, and a gift shop stocked with plenty of skunk ape memorabilia.
Despite the enthusiasm of alleged eyewitnesses, critics strongly dispute the likelihood that the skunk ape exists. No nonhuman primate is known to be native to the United States or Canada, and no definitive evidence of a skunk ape (either physical or genetic) has ever been found, despite the abundance of individuals who deliberately search for it and other cryptids. Many skeptics argue that alleged sightings of the creature are most likely of black bears instead. The black bear is found in Florida, has dark hair that covers its entire body, and is capable of walking on its hind legs. It is not uncommon for bears to harbor a stench, since they feed on the carcasses of dead animals and scavenge through trash. A Smithsonian Institution investigation also suggested the possibility that primates such as orangutans may have escaped from breeding facilities in the state and been mistaken for an unknown species. In addition to these possibilities, experts note that hoaxes involving cryptids are not uncommon.
Bibliography
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"A Bill to Protect Skunk Apes." Florida Memory. Florida Dept. of State, Div. of Library and Information Services, 21 Oct. 2013. Web. 2 Aug. 2016.
Nickell, Joe. "Tracking Florida’s Skunk Ape." Skeptical Briefs 23.3 (2013). Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. Web. 2 Aug. 2016.
Redfern, Nick. The Bigfoot Book: The Encyclopedia of Sasquatch, Yeti, and Cryptid Primates. Detroit: Visible Ink, 2016. Print.
"Skunk Ape Research Headquarters." RoadsideAmerica.com. Doug Kirby, Ken Smith, Mike Wilkins, 2016. Web. 2 Aug. 2016.
Speigel, Lee. "Another Skunk Ape (or Bigfoot Hoaxer) Rears Its Ugly Head in Florida Swamp." Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 1 Feb. 2015. Web. 2 Aug. 2016.
Stromberg, Joseph. "On the Trail of Florida’s Bigfoot—the Skunk Ape." Smithsonian.com. Smithsonian Inst., 6 Mar. 2014. Web. 2 Aug. 2016.
Webb, Shelby. "The Legend of Skunk Ape: A Pungent Figure in Florida Folklore." Extra Herald-Tribune. Herald-Tribune Media Group, 8 Aug. 2014. Web. 2 Aug. 2016.