The series pilot has Pat Spain traveling to the small Indonesian island of Sumatra in pursuit of the Orang Pendek, the bipedal ape-like creature that natives claim still roams the island’s vast jungles. When we were filming Chasing Discovery, both Loren Coleman and Jeff Meldrum mentioned Orang Pendek during our interviews with them and seemed genuinely excited when discussing the plausibility of this cryptid’s existence.

Meldrum, one of the world’s most respected Sasquatch researchers, and Coleman, the preeminent authority on all things crytozoology, both said they found the case for Orang Pendek’s existence quite compelling, especially given the 2004 discovery of fossils from a small bi-pedal creature on the neighboring island of Flores. Those fossils were later identified as belonging to an entirely new humanoid species, Homo floresiensis; a species that happens to share some key characteristics (including height) with the eye-witness descriptions of Orang Pendek.

So be sure to tune into the National Geographic Channel tonight at 9 pm to follow Pat on his quest to uncover the facts about this legendary creature, and check below  for a sneak peek at tonight’s episode.

Until next time, happy hunting!

- Bill

Pat Spain, one of the scientists who appeared in Chasing Discovery, is hosting a brand new Cypto-focused show that will air on the National Geographic Channel beginning this March!!!

The show, aptly titled “Beast Hunter“, will follow Pat around the globe as he examines the legends, and science, behind some of cryptozoology’s most intriguing cases, including Mokele-mbembe, Orang Pendek and the Mongolian Death Worm.

Pat looks for clues of animals sleeping in tree trunks in Kerinci National Park.
Here is Nat Geo’s blurb describing the show that’s posted on their website:

“Beast Hunter is hosted by Pat Spain, a biologist and explorer who travels the globe in search of mythical creatures, immersing himself amongst the tribes, people and cultures on his quest to find the truth between fact and fiction.”

If you want a sneak peek, there are a few clips posted on the “Beast Hunter” series page on the Nat Geo website. It’s definitely worth checking out, especially this clip of Pat taking part in an Amazonian tribal ritual involving gloves full of bullet ants… yikes!!

Anyway, be sure to tune in to “Beast Hunter” this March on Nat Geo, and check back here often, as we’ll be posting any updates about the show or new clips as we hear about them.

Happy Hunting

- Bill

-Mark