Strange gorilla-like animal sighted in Nokrek National Park

TURA, Feb 22 — A mysterically large gorilla-like animal has been sighted inside the Nokrek National Park in Garo Hills. The animal was first sighted by two villagers of Sasatgre village, which borders the park, on January 23. The two villagers had gone deep inside the park when they saw the animal. The two villagers witnessed the large animal and its offspring from the top of a hill for three consecutive days. From the description given by the villagers, it appears the gorilla-like animal was covered with a dark coat of fur and was seen squatting in a plateau. Forest Department officials, on being informed, visited the area and located its footprints. The prints were similar to that of a bear except that its size was enormous. The marks when measured showed the length of the feet to the be one foot and three inches while its breadth was seven inches. The area where the mysterious animal was sighted revealed other things as well. It had camped in the particular place because of its flatness and cleanliness. Four different spots were found covered with grass and leaves indicating that it was the animals dwelling place. A number of wild banana plants were destroyed in a manner that it had consumed certain parts of it. Certain trees had large scratch marks as high up as seven to eight feet. The two villagers who saw the creature said that they could not identify it, but ruled out the possibility of it being a bear or any other common wild animal. They said that the animal moved around its dwelling place which was visible to them. The duo had seen the animal from a distance of about 200 meters. The animal was in the area for only three days and by the fourth day it failed to turn up. This could be attributed to the presence of elephants that had visited the area on the fourth day and damaged many trees and left their droppings. While the forest officials have taken droppings from the site for analysis, a team of local adventurers visited the spot, which is deep inside the park, and took photo shots, from both still and video camera, of the footprints and the marks left on the trees and its dwelling place. The team also found similar prints further north, about nine kms from the site.