The Gazeka, also known as the Papuan Devil-Pig, was said to resemble a tapir or giant sloth, having a long, proboscis-like snout. There are some theories it may be the descendant of an extinct marsupial
The hunt and encounter were described in The Star (Reynoldsville, PA) on September 14, 1910:
"In the wilds of New Guinea, the great unexplored island just north of Australia, these scientists have run across a marvelous race of pigmies whose average height is about 4 four feet three inches, and a monster mammal, considerably larger than an elephant, which they have named the Gazeka - and which has seemingly wrought great havoc amongst the pigmies.
Just what species the Gazeka belongs to has not yet been determined, but in the description given by the explorers, Dr. W. D. Matthew, of the American Museum of Natural History, sees a strong resemblance to a prehistoric monster known as the diprotodon, fossil remains of which have been found at different times throughout Australia...."
"According to the official reports, the Gezeka is of gigantic size and fearsome aspect. It is all black and white striped, has the nose of a tapir and "a face like the devil." Among the English inhabitants (on the island, the animal is known as Monckton's Gazeka, in honor of Mr. C. A. W. Monckton, a former explorer in New Guinea. who first reported its presence in the mountains...."
"discovery of the huge footprints and other indications of the very recent presence of some tremendous monster that had evidently been prowling on the grassy plains surrounding the lakes on the summit at an elevation of about 12,500 feet. He followed the trail all day, and came upon the monster at dusk, just as it was devastating a settlement of the pigmies. The little natives were screaming and running for their lives, although they turned every now and again to aim their poisoned arrows at the brute. Monckton let fire as soon as he was able to get in a proper position, and the huge gazeka at once turned upon him. As it reared upon its hind legs and pawed the air it looked to the hunter as big as a house, standing fully 25 feet high. Two of Monckton's bullets seemed to take effect, as a stream of blood flowed freely from the animal's shoulder, but before Monckton was able to reload the animal turned and fled. By that time it was too dark to follow him, and Monckton never had another opportunity to renew his pursuit...."
"No tapirs or rhinoceroses exist to the east of Wallace's line, which includes Australia and New Guinea, but about the period when the mastodon and the mammoth flourished in America a huge marsupial known as the diprotodon is known to have existed in Australia. Fossil remains recently discovered leave no doubt as to its gigantic size, and, although there is. of course, no means of ascertaining its appearance. In life, as it has been extinct for several thousands of years, the Gazeka appears to bear a marked resemblance in form to this ancient monster...."
The Gazeka, also known as the Papuan Devil-Pig, was said to resemble a tapir or giant sloth, having a long, proboscis-like snout. There are some theories it may be the descendant of an extinct marsupial belonging to the family Palorchestidae.
An English traveler, K.A. W. Monckton, journeyed to the western part of British New Guinea at Mount Albert Edward. He discovered giant footprints and other recent signs of a large creature with cloven hooves, which apparently roams the grassy plains surrounding the lake on the slopes of the mountains at an altitude of about 3800 meters.
Monckton supposedly followed the trail all day, and came upon the beast at dusk, just as it was devastating a settlement of the pygmies. During the melee of screaming and running natives, Monckton shot his rifle as soon as he was in a proper firing position. It was said that the huge Gazeka at once turned upon him, as it reared upon its hind legs and stood approximately 25 feet high.
Two of Monckton’s bullets caused a stream of blood to flow freely from the animal’s shoulder. But before Monckton was able to reload the animal turned and fled. By that time it was too dark to follow it, and Monckton never had another opportunity to capture the beast.
A 1909-1911 British expedition to the south of New Guinea, under the leadership of William Goodfellow, included many leading scientists of the day. An article in the Steven’s Point Wisconsin Gazette of August 31, 1910, stated that the expedition had made 'one of the most remarkable scientific discoveries ever made.' A 'prehistoric monster,' larger than an elephant had been discovered by 'scientists.' The article also described a 'marvelous race of pygmies' seen for the first time by modern science.
The article also stated 'According to the official reports, the Gazeka is of gigantic size and fearsome aspect. It is black and white striped, has the nose of a tapir and a face like the devil.' In the same article, Dr. W.D. Matthew of the American Museum of Natural History saw a strong resemblance between the fearsome animal and a prehistoric monster known as the Diprotodon, the fossil remains of which are found all over Australia.
Several years ago, Brian Irwin, an Australian and a creationist, visited Papua New Guinea where he met with several of the inhabitants of the small islands of West New Britain. The witnesses stated that they had seen huge creatures which were described as living dinosaurs. These sightings have been recorded by the locals since the early 1990s. Irwin detailed these eyewitness accounts in his book 'Theropod and sauropod dinosaurs sighted in Papua New Guinea?'
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