nhiJng hien TUONG bj an
CHlfA CO LCfl GIAI

Cong ty Thanh An
Djch tir nguyen ban tieng Trung Quoc

JEROME CLARKE
NANCY PEEL

NHUNG HIEN Tl/CfNG Bl AN
CHlfA CO CO I G1A1
■

m

NgLfcJi dich: NGUYiN HUY c6

NHA XU AT RAN VAN HOA - THONG TIN

JEROME CLARKE & NANCY PEEL

Lai tua
*

Cudn such nay gidi thieit ve nluOig chuyen khdng binh
t lut'dng ed the xdy ra tv ong the gidh tifnhiete nhu'ng dieu ky
la mot so ngitih tan nun nhln thiiy co ve nhit trdi Inin vdi
ijitx luat tit nhien, nhu'ng edit chuyen mang mint sac than
hi md ai do vd huh belt gap vc/ in suit mdi mdi trong ky itc
cua ho. Chang han, cluing la van nghe nhftng Idi don dai
het site ly ky ve d\a bay, ngitih bo sat, ngitih vitctnt ngitih
tuye) r.v... khien cho ngitih nghe phdi son toe gay\ The
nlntng. ii vdo nhieti tilth gian vd din diem khde nhau, van
cd mot so ngitbi ke lai ning ho tan mitt chitng kien chuyen
la tifo'ng doi trimg hap vdi nhau, vd dieu do gay nen sitclni
v cua ede nhd khoa hoc.
Vdi tnnh do khoa hoc phdt trien trong then dai ngdy
nay. eh ting ta ddi hoi ede nhd khoa hoc dita ra edit tra Id'i
i d rang vd ht/p logic ve nhftng edit chuyen than bi do. 17
halt nluf min ngitih den cho riing ede nhd khoa hoe hie it
rang diet nhien. elide se gidi thich ditirc day dii ehinh xde
5

NHUiNG HfEN Tlf0NG BI AN CHU'A CO LOT G1A1
hon. khien (ho nun n gift'd elite fc lhaa man. 7tt\' nhicn con
mot so van de, can n a led cua car nhd khoa hoc dudng nluf
van clnta that hop ly. Ctu> du nluf vq\\ urn ui den nay
( hung ta del cd the khdng dinh difoc rang, vdi nen Lima hoc
him elai, tin vice gidi thich 'nhilng can chuycn ky qudi"
md con ngudi gap phdi khong con may khd khan tula.
Mdi khi ngu'di ta eh fa tin ve mot sit vice khde tiufdng.
tin phan dug ur nhicn cua moi n gift'd Id id ra tight ngo.
tutdt he! Id nghi ngd n gift ft chifng kirn cn the ndi ddi vi
mot dong co ndo do? V / fiong xd hoi van c on khong it kc
thich cheti n di, vi danh loi, hodi muon to ra ta day thong
minh hicn hied hon ngifdi nen sdn sang Ji(a ra nhtlng cluing
cit hia dai, khdng dee cong tier site Ida ddi gidi khoa hoc
vd cong chung. Ngay cd nhdng bite dnh chup tai hicn
tntdng ddi khi van Id nguy tao, hem nluf trong tat cd cue
hue dnh chup ve vat the hay (UFO), rhi ngift'd ta nhqn dinh
rang cd den 95c/c Id gin. Mot vdi ti( lieu hinh dnh tot nhdt
ve con qudi vdt d ho Locnet ( iing vein ed diem dang nge'C
Sit fhi/c Id phdn Ion cue nhd dieu tra deu nhein dinh rang,
khd nhien hue dnh thtcu dnh chan thife, vi ha ly do: 1) Da
phdn ngifdi tan nun nhin fluty qudi vat deu khdng mang
theo may dnh, lam son chup ditoc hinh dnh ten hicn tnfdng.
2 ) Nhfftig ketrdi qua stfkicn la lung vd dang so do, tin turn
trang hie ay het site hoeing hot kinh heli, cdu tarn tri dent md
nghi den (hup dnh tufa. 3) Nhung sit vice ky la thong
thu'd'ng chi dicn ra trong thd'i gian may gidy ddng ho Car
6

JEROME CLARKE & NANCY PEEL
nhd then Ira thqrn chi con cho rang, tilth t ang mti mit, thi
i ting l iuhi I hue hem. \ i ngudi chap anh tin do Inti toy i un
ray. him V(/r> cd lhe chnp chafe bite chili that net. Con nhting
ten lira dent ha tight ran# chat lu'qng anh me) kern thi ho
cluing kictn c hoc chare gi.
Con

mot

vein dc khd pho bien ntia me) ngttifi fa dal ra:

'Dan nc cua nhting ngttifi tin than Id ke chting kien kitting
biet co hinh tlittimg kitting? ", next phan cloan sif vice theo
kien flute pho thong, thi nhting dieu qitdi di vuqt qua mite
binh ihitifng do tlutimg xuat \ it tit nhting cliitoi ky tic vien
rang chdng co chin c an c in hue lien ndo. Clio dit nhuvd\\
ket qua ti de nghiem lam ly do ede nhd tdm ly hoc rich hanh
doi vtiri ngitdi eh ting kien lai cho thay dqi bo phan ho hodn
loan giong nlut ng/titi kitting cluing kien. hffn ntia, trong
mot so tntifng hop khong pheii mot md Id den may ngttifi
cimg nliin thay si/ kien la lung xdy ra.
Gang ly lint hem ntia Id, nhting chuyen lei do dd xudt
hien nhieu Ian lap di lap lai trong may the ky nay, chdng
hem nine con qudi vdt trong ltd Locnet, thi ngay ttinam 565
da dupe dua tin roi! Con chuyen "dan chan cue Ion ” dupe
phdt hien trong rimg sdu mien ven bien Thai Binh Duong
kini vtic fay bac mien bde chdu My, chuyen "ngitifi rting”
(Anmdt) o mien tdy Mong Co, chuyen "ngudi tuyet" Iren
day nni Hymalaia chdt vdt. dupe ngttifi la truyen rung rang
I di. Mar dt) tieng ndi d nhting noi xdy ra sif vice la lung
7

KHU'NG IJ1EN TU0NG HI AN CHUA CO L0I GIAI
kitting giong nhau. ndm van hoa cfing men tun mat khde \
nhu'ng a// //?//(' \ t//; ;y// hidn nhien: Do Id nw tci vd mot
igemg

'ngtfe'n viftm" ndm ngiftri dd\ long Id. di bang Itai

chan. Klti mot so ngifi/i Jita tin ve ran bicn thi sif mo td
nut ho Ini rat khde nhau, Co n gif eh not loot dong vat do
than hinh nluln hong nh\( ran, nhifug ngu'eh khac lai kd
rang iron minh no not nhien mini xu xt, no cd hinh dang
gif mg nliKngu'a tnn dan cd biim ho(tc giong nlut con cd vi
t o vdy. Mac dit i hi tied dtftgc md fa khac nhau mot inn mpt
vi/c thi van cd mol diem cluing, do U) dong vat md con
ngtfdti chita diet ftp cd the hen du'e/c difeh bicn.
Trudn mot hidn lifting ky quae, con ngitai ilucemg td ra
khd hieu. vi du ve vftng hum tarn gidc Bccnmda tren bicn
Can he , trong vong hem 20 ndm neiy del \a\ ra nhien vm
dam ran \ a reri may bay. the md tdi lieu g/u chdp ve kid
lifting vd nhu'ng diem bien khde lai cho diet add eliding cd
gi khde Lt so vdi rung bien ef i at tun. Cling (inmg tit nhtf
the. vdo tlidp ky 70, gia sin cua nhu'ng ugiteh ndng dan d
cue rung Minnesota

Kansdt tu nhien hi died benh hang

lpat te)m cho ho bi khdn don. Car nlu) sinh ly hoc heath ly
thu v nhdn dinh rang do Ici men then t lubtg lay nhiem rat
defn gidn nhu'ng red dang sen Thong thud/ng. sau khi such
ban duel fin hang max clnjc ndm, edit chit yen lx ky due re
bien hoa vd then phe'mg len rat nhiem, ai rung ndng long
muein diet stf that... va c hug fltich td md du diet do cd the
chi Id ulu'fiig can i huyen bia dht that hay.
8

JEROME rLAKKE & NANC Y PEEL
Trony iilnfng nam yan day, nyay cri cac nhd Lima hoc
dot khi cFtny pit am sai him* Khi car tliitv ilia nhin thdx inn
hien nidi topi quai \d/ nidi to vd cb nlucu ran ilu ho lai
dtt\Ji n a lift rany do chi Id mot / ay to hi nhd hat ca re frdi
ndi trail mat mfbr, the mb yid day cluing la da tm chdu
ratty do Id mol am nufc cue ton. Cadi day ditto kin. car
nhd khoa hoc < hn mot mifc plat nhd a Mf ton lai t ua Ioai dpi
titih tiuh vd hum many >ao bony1
Dirony nhien. cb mot so chttxcn la ddi mac do tin cay
con cao hint dutyen khdc mot it, dimy itluf qiutn diem i da
mbi vai nhd khoa hoc chit yen nyltien ei'fn ve cac Ioai dotty
vat hay yidu muih eho ratty, khony the hndn todti pint nhdn
rdny, o'mot not \ a xbi hen Idtih ndo do con ton tin mot vai
lodi ddny vat mb con nytfoi dura hiet tbi. TJtco dotty thdi
yian, cat clutyen yia thorn hiem tinea nhien vd hien c ci
khony daftly niton thdy rdny quo that con cb loot ddny vdt
chati to hope yiony nlufc/udi vdt a ltd Lot net. Tifo'tiy nr uhif
vow cac nhd veil ly i\('C vd khi tifOny hoc eftny se phdt hien
ra nyayen nhdn hi nit thdnh nhthiy qua lam yet hay rrony
khony t rutty hope n It any khot ha ay loti rot xabny Trdi Dad
Nyoot ra, vice co the phdt hien ra sit sony tri tin; d nyodi
Trdi Da) hat bunt chatty ta p/idi acm xet lai van de sink tbn
aim* nhtf vat trd cno lodi nyifbi irony VTt fra.
I nfb'c nhFmy hien t irony ra nhien ky Ip4 i ho da con he)
sire nut hdt I hi chiiny ta van pluii nyhten i ifu eh any mot
9

NIltfNG HIEN TUfONTi RI AN CHUX CO \Xh GTAi
each nghirm nit . mac dit moi ngtft'ri (bring fa clctf in' da?
elm mink moil lieu chudn ve mux do dang tin nia nlulng
( ciu clmycn la ky do, song cluing van gay dm cluing la
cam ngin sau sac, kc cd nlulng tufting hop van7 in ngndi
irf lifting lifting cita minh. Van de lim hieu hien tift/ng i/ndi
di ilm Inn nhieu dun gum va sue hfc\ rung tint hoi mot thdi
dp end mo\ nlurng khdng nhe da cd the Cudn sdeh nay
khdng dal van de cd dang tin hay khdng, md chi muon he
md cho moi ngiftii nhin thdx hade nghe thay nlulng sit vice
lx ky vift/r ra ngodi site lifting lifting etui cluing ta cd the sc
con xdy ra tumg nay tncii.

10

JEROME CLARKE & NANCY PEEL

CHITONG I

DONG VfiT Bj DIET CHUNG
SONG Lfll

1. KHUNG LONG TAI XU AT HIEN

N gav nay lieu khung long eon ton tai khong?
Van de nay lieu co qua hoang dufdng chang? Thuc
ra, hau het cac nha khoa hoc va ca nhOfng ngtfdi
thAy dang day chung tn deu tin rang loai dong vat
bo sat to ldn nay da bi diet chung tit 65 trieu nam
trufOc day roi. Nhtlng, nhdng via viec tan mat nhin
thay khung long d nhdng ndi xa xoi heo lanh lai lien
tuc xay ra khong ng6t! Mot so' nha khoa hoc, nha
tham hiem. cac nha khoa hoc t.it nhien rat muon
lam ro nhifng vu viec “khong the tin dtfdc” do va
neu co the, ho con muon nghien ciiu sau them.
Tat ca cac cuoc dieu tra nav phan ldn deu tap
trung

vao

mot

loai

dong

vat

diidr

goi

la

“Mokelimobimobi“. Qua cac mieu ta. xem ra chung

11

NHLTMd HIltK TUON<; m AN! CHUA CO 1.01 OIA1
gidng loin "rong co ran” {Loai. rong nay la mot loai
khung long khong 16 chuyen An thuc vat, co va duoi
rat dai, dan nho, bung to. c han to va kho nhu mot
goe cay, Loai th?m lan sum va thAn lan litng dai
chinh la thuoc loai nay),
Nhufng ghi chop sdm nhat ve viec ng'hi ngb
nhOng dau chan khong 16 nhif chicc mam do loai
dong vat nay de lai la cua mot giao sy ngiidi Phap
khi ong truyen giao o vung chdu Phi nam 1776.
Suot hai the kv sau do, tat ca cac gin chep ve van
de nay cua cac giao si, cac quan chuc thuc dan, cac
nha tham hiem va ca cua tho dan ve co ban cung
gidng nhu vay.
May nam gan day, hau nhu tat ca cac vu tan
mat nhin thay deu xuai phat tii vung Trung Phi va
cac vung dam lay xa xoi heo lanh hai bd song
Conggo thuoc nude Cong hoa Cdnggd chau Phi.
Trong hai nam 1980-1981, Mack - nha sinh vat hoc
thuoc Dai hoc Chicago da dan dau mot doan tham
')

s

v

,

hiem den ndi do. Lan tham hiem dau tien con co ca
Bower - mot chuyen gia nghien cdu dong vat hoc bd
sat cung di, chinh ong nay khi nghien cdu ve loai ca
shu d mien trung Tay Phi da nghe dudr cau chuyen
vc "Mokelimobimobr. Ca hai lan tham hiem deu
khong nhin thay con vat thuc, nhung ho da tien
hanh phong van rat nhieu ngud'i da tnn mat nhin
VI

JEROME CLARKE & NANCY PEEL
thay chung. Loai vat dang sd nay nghe noi song d
car vung lid va trong dong song. Nam 1959, ngtidi
Beegami o do da tung giet chet mot con vat nhu vay
d gan ho Tari.

Bi/c dieu khSc ve loai khung long ca va
khung long co dai trong tac pham
“The gidi trudc nan hong thuy” cua Figer.
Mack va doan tham hiem cua ong khong den
dUdc ho Tari, nhting mot to tham hifcm clo mot ki
su My ten la Ranger da den duoc ndi ay. Ong cung
vd ong tuyen bo da vai lan nhin thay loai dong vat
co dai khong 16. chung song trong ho Tari va cac ho
dam xung quanh. Nha sinh vat hoc cua ehinh phu
Conggo ten la Agrangran da tung la thanh vien
cua doan tham hiem lan thtl hai cung den ho nay

NHUMG HTEN TU0NG Bf AN CHlTA CO 1,01 C1TAI
nam 1982 va cung da nhin thhv loai vat do. Nbdng
rat tiec, ca hai ong den noi rang do may anh true
trac non khong the chup anh dude con vat do.
Ngoai ra eo mot doi tham hiein khae do mot ngitdi
Anh va mot doi do hai ngufdi Nhat dting ra to chdc
da Ian luot tien hanh ba chuyen tham hiem khu
vu'c nay nhifng cung chang phat hien dude gi ca.

NHLfNG LOAI KHUNG LONG KHAC CIJA KHU
VL/C CHAU PHI
Khi dang d khu vitc ho Tari, Ranger da nghe
ducic mot cau chuycn rat ly kh NgUdi dia phifdng

noi vdi ong ta rang, may thang tritdc (trie la vao
mot ngay thang 2 nam 1981), ngUdi ta da phat
hien vai xac chet cua loai voi 16n noi tren mat ho.
Nguyen nhan chet co ve nhu' da day chung bi dam
thung. Do khong phai la vet dan ban nga cua chung van con chring to khong phai bon
sail trom voi lay nga). Dan dia phu'dng noi ke giet
chet voi la mot loai quai vat sung dai song trong
mot khu rung canh do.
Hq goi loai dong vat than bi do la loai 'Sat thu
voi''. Hau nhu cac bao cao deu noi r^ng no to bkng
hoac hdn voi mot chut, bon chan to, tho do lav cd
the (chu' khong giong nhu loai ca sau chan moc ben
14

JEROME CLARKE & NANCY PEEL
canhh co mot chiec duoi dai, to. Mat trong tihii te
giac. phi a truoc moc mot chiec siing. No vita song
du'di nude vita song tren can diidc, an thiic vat,
chinh no da dung chiec siing kia de giet chet voi
hoac trau. Cuoh sach “Khung long con song?” xuat
ban nam 1987 cua Mack neu y kien cho rang, loai
vat nay neu thuc sii con song thi rat to the la mot
con te giac thdi tien sii, hoac loai khung long moc
sting, vi du loai khung long ba siing.
Mack cung da thu thap diidc bao cao chua dude
chinh xac lam ve loai vat Mbilu - Mbilu - Mbilu;
Loai vat nay tren liing moc mot vay cring xem ra
giong mot loai khung long kiem. Ve nhufng vu nhin
thay loai “GUMAMONENE” sau do da diidc chting
minh la dang tin cay hdn. Do la loai dong vat bo sat
giong loai ran to. tren lung co vay hinh rang ciia,
ngiidi dai, co bon chan. Trong nhflng ngiidi nhin
thay no co ca mot giao sy truyen giao ngiidi My ten
la Aix. Ong nay noi rang, vao thang 11 nam 1971,
ong nhin thay con vat do di tii diidi song len, roi
khuat vao dam co cao. Ong khong nhin diidc toan
bo con vat (khong nhin thay dau va co), nhiing qua
ngan nude de lai tren cd the, ong doan no phai dai
hdn 10m.
Ong la ngiidi rat hieu cac loai dong vat d
Conggo, nen khang dinh do khong phai ca sau.
Can cd vao mot so bao cao rua nhdng ngiidi nhin

NHlfNC HIEN TUONG HI AN CHtfACO LCJl (ilAI
thay (co mieu ta ca dau va duoi dai). Ong r.ho rang
do la loai vat nam gitfa than lan vh ran. co the la
loai khung long dai thdi tien sii sot lai (loai
Dolichosaurs).
Nam 1932. nha sinh vat hoc Sundersen - nha
thu thap txeu ban dong vat ky la trong mot lan di
tren phan phia tay dong song Menm Llomalom da
gap phai mot hien tudng rat lv kL Cung v6i ngtfdi
dia phudng dan dudng. ho chia lam hai thuyen
nho di men theo bo song de nghien ciiu mot so
hang dong. Bong nhien ho nghe thay nhutng tieng
gdm thet that khung khiep nhd cua nhung con vat
khong 16 dang can xe nhau 6 mot trong cac hang
da vpng ra,
Dong mioc xoav da day hai chicc thu yen nho ve
phia eda hang co tieng gam thet kia. Sundcrsen
nhcf lai: ' O ndi phat ra mot tieng dong c\lc Ion, mot
con vat to Ion ki quai nho len khdi mat nude lam
ntfdc ban len tung toe, tiep sau lai mot tieng gam
ldn. con vat lan xuong ntfdc. Con vat nay mau den
bong, ddu no giong nhif dau loai bao bien nhiing
phang va nhrin hdn. to cd nhu' con ha ma vay”.
Hai ong quyet dinh tiep tuc tien len. Sau khi
len bd, ho phat hien ra mot so dau chan khong lo
ma chac chan khong phai la ciia ha ma de lai hdn
16

1

-

30

JEROME CLARKE & NANCY PEEL
nfia vung do hoan toan khong co ha ma. Tho dan
b do noi rang, loai vat nay da giet sach ha ma roi.
NhUng chung lai khong phai loai an thit ma an
qua cua mot so" loai cay moc hai ben bd song, dan
dia phudng gqi chung la “M'KUOO M'BEMBOOL
Neu con vat ma hai nha tham hiem nhin thay
dung la loai dong vat do thi no rat co the khong
phai la loai khung long co dai. 50 nam sau, trong
mot cuoc tham hiem khac, Mack phat hien, dan
dia phudng da dung chung mot ttf de chi bat ki con
vat to 16n nguy hiem nao song trong nude (song,
ho, dam..,).

KHUNG LONG NAM MY
Trong cuon sach “The gidi da mat" xuat ban
nam 1912, Huan tufdc Doyle da mieu ta ve mot doi
tham hiem cua nitdc Anh tham hiem vung liiu vile
song Amazon d Nam My. Ho da phai trai qua moi
gian kho va phat hien ra d mot ndi each biet han
vdi the gidi ben ngoai co mot loai thu la tif thdi tien
sii da trai qua hang trieu nam van con song d do.
Vai chuc nam lai day, eau chuyen da hap dSn doc
gia tren khiip the gidi. Nhitng dieu ki la la, trong
cuoc song hien thtfc lai co rat it bao cao ve viec
nhin thay khung long den tii Nam My.
17

NHlTNG HIEN TUONG BI AN CHlTA CO Ltil GIAT
Nhufng, bao "New York Herald” ra ngay LI
thang 1 nam 1911 dang mot vu viec. tac gia bai
viet la mot ngUdi Dilc ten La Smit. Mot ngay thang
10 nam 1907, ong cung mot ngUdi ban la thuyen
tritdng cung mot ngifdi dhn dtfdng la ngiidi Indian
tol mot hem nui rat xa xoi cua Peru, ndi do co rat
nhieu d&m va ho m.tdc. Ho da phat hien ra nhufng
dau chan rat to va Id la cua mot loai dong vat chda
biet nao do de lan O hai ben vet chan, cay co bi de
hep xuohg. Dieu ki la cua vung nay la d cho, ho
khong he nhin thay cac loai vat nhii ca sau mom
ng&n, th&n l£n chau My va ran nude ma le ra phai
co d do.
Mac du nhUng ngUdi dan dddng vo cung sd hai,
nhung cac nha tham hiem van quyet dinh ha trai
nghi qua dem 6 do. Sang sdm horn sau, ho quay trd
lai thuyen de tiep tuc tim kiem loai dong vat than
bi do. Den gan triia, ho phat hien ra nhuCng vet
chan mdi d tren bd va quyet dinh, du cho nguv
hiem the nao chang nuta ho van len bd truv theo
con vat la. Chmh luc ay, ho nghe thay tieng keu
that thanh cua mot dan khi dang hai qua tren mot
cay canh do.
Smit noi: "Mot con vat mau den khong lo nao
do an minh trong dam canh cay bong nho len giiia
dan khi gay ra mot stf nao loan khung khiep.”
IS

JEROME CLARKE & NANCY PEEL
Ngiidi dan difdng qua sd vqi bdi ra xa khoi bd. Hai
ong chang nhin thay ro la gi ca chi nghe thay
“tieng cay lay dong rao rao, tieng cua mot mai cheo
cue 16n dap am am xuong mi6c va tieng keu that
thanh choi tai cua dan khi thao chay \ Sau do tat
ca lai im lang nhil khong co chuyen gi xay ra ca.
Khoang 10 phut sau, cav coi ven bd lai rung
len, cuoi cung eac nha tham hiem nhin thay “con
quai vat dang sd” kia. Con quai vat hinh nhd
khong de y gi tdi ho, no nhay xuong nitdc va bdi
den cho each ho khoang 50m. Con vat nay rat 16n
“dai khoang 12m, chi rieng dau va co da chiem
khoang 4m”. Dau no “to nhil thung bia, hinh dang
giong loai “Mac” (mot loai dUdc goi la “bon khong
giong”), mom hinh nhil chuyen dung de day hoac
giut mot vat nao do; Co giong nhu co rdn nhitng rat
to; Khong co chan trildc ma thay vao do la mot chi
dang vay co mong vefa to vtfa nang; “Tren chiec
duoi” vila nang vita ctfng “phu nhung manh chat
silng tho va Cling”. Tren thiic te, toan than loai vat
nay dtfdc phu mot ldp nhil da ca sau vay.
Hai ong gitfdng sung len nh&m vao no bop co.
NliUng vien dan hinh nhu chi lam no tuc gian
them, chii khong he thay chay mau gi ca, vien dan
trung dau no lai tnldt di mat, giong nhil ta bin
vao mot tang da ciing vay. Ho b£n 7 phat, tat ca
19

NHCTNG H1EN TlTONG B1 AN CHU*A CO LC5I G1A1
deu trung muc lieu. De tranh dan, no quay ngUdi
lan xuong midc lam cho song ntfdc cuqn len suyt
lam chim chiec thuven nho cua ho! Bdi ra mot doan
tiidng doi xa, no lai noi len, “sau khi nhin chung
toi vai giav, no lai bdi ve phia chung toi”. Vi nhiing
vien dan mu chung toi ban chi nhuf gai ngria cho
no, nen chung toi quyet dinh thao chay. Khi chav
dude ve phia sau mot hbn dao nho thi khong nhin
thay no dau nijfa. Chung toi khong dam treu gheo
no nua va dn trdi da may man thoat nan/'

DAU CHAN KHONG LO
Trong bao cao cua Smit noi rang, suot cube
hanh trinh sau do ho khong phat hien ra van de gi
quan trong cm Nhitng do vien thuyen tnidng sau
do vai thang da chet ve benh tat, nen su viec tren
chang con ai la ngUdi lam chiing niia. Day la bao
cao duy nhat mieu ta ve loai quai vat nay d vung
ho dam Nam My. Dau the ky 20, trong khi vien
trung ta Fort dang tien hanh do dac de phuc vu
cho Hoi Dia ly Hoang gia Anh d cac vung ho dam
doc hai bd con song thuoc ndi tiep giap giiia ba
rul6c Peru, Bolivia va Braxin (each dia diem thorn

mom tren vai tram kilomet) till nghe ctf dan d do
noi ho da nhin thay “dau chan cua mot con vat
20

JEROME CLARKE &. NANCY PEE1.
khong lo nao do. Fort noi rang, 6 khu vuc bien gidi
xa hdn ve phia nam giuta Peru va Bolivia. ong da
timg nhin thay nhiing dau chan de lai cua mot loai
vat chtfa bict nao do.

NHCfNG VU VIEC TAN MAT NHiN THAY
«

■

«

KHUNG LONG CANG KY D[ HON
Neu nhit noi rang khung long co the dang ton
tai tren Luc dia chau Phi va Nam My thi con co
the co chut dang tin, con noi chung dang ton tai
6 nitdc My va chau Au thi chac chang ai tin la co

the nhil vay dUdc. Ay vay ma van co khong it cac
bao cao ve chuyen nay lai til chinh hai ndi do
chuyen den.
Tren tap chi “De quod' xuat ban ngay 22 thang
8 nam 1982 co dang mot bile thtf cua Snow, ngiidi
bang Colorado. Bile thtf viet rang, nam 1935, khi
3 tuoi, ba ta da nhin thay “5 con khung long be”
d gin vung que cua ba. Vai thang sau, do mot
con trong so" do cin chet ciiu cua mot ngtfdi nong
dan, nen ong nav da ban chet no. “Sang s6m horn
sau, ong noi dan chung toi di xem con khung
long do. No cao khoang 2m, mau xam, dau nhtf
dau ran, chi trtfdc ngin co mong vuot sac, chi
sau to, duoi dai”.
21

NHtfNC HIEN TUONC. Bi AN CHLfA CO 1.01 GLAI
Ba Snow da hai ldn tihin thay con vat do. Nam
1937. ba ta phat hien ra khung long trong mot
hang da. nhtlng lan nav con vat co mau xanh dam.
Toi 23 thang 10 nam 1978. trdi nut a rat to, ba lai
nhin thay con khung long dang di trong vung dat
hoang d ngay gan cho ma ba da thay khung long
vao nam 1937.
Mot vu khac xav ra nam 1934, mot ngddi nong
dan bang Nam Dacota noi rang, mot con vat thuoc
loai bo sat rat to ldn co 4 chan da buoc ong ta phai
ddi chiec may keo ctia minh khoi mat dudng. roi no
bien mat trong ho nude canh do. Cac nha dieu tra
da nhin thay nhutng vet chan khong 16 de lai va
trtfdc khi xay ra vu viec, nhieu loai gia sue nhu
citu, de da bi mat tich rat bi an.
Mot ngddi Y bao cao, vao thang 12 nam 1970,
ong ta da bj “mot loai dong vat bo sat” dai 5m tail
cong tai Frolis. trong no nhu loai khung long. O
vung Gorot phia tay bac each Frolis chtXng 70 km,
thang 6 nam 1975. da titng co mot con quai vat
xuat hien tren mot ruong ca chua khien cho mot
ngitdi nong dan sp chet khiep. Bao chi dtia tin rang
"ngudi nong dan nay la ngtidi trade nay rat
nghiem tuc''. Nghe noi con quai vat cao 3m. co 4
chan, gidiig than lan. nhung khong phai ca sau;
vet chan no de lai rat to. Canh sat noi rang con vai
22

JEROME CLARKE & NANCY PEEL
ngiidi ntia nhin thay con vat do: nhCtng ngtfdi nay
deu noi con vat nay keu nhu tieng cho soi hu vay.

Mot con khung long trong
phim hanh dong "Kim cuong" san xuat nim 1933.

2. LOAI DONG VAT
•MO KE LI MO BI MO BI"

Cum tuf "Mo Ke Li Mo Bi Mo Bi" la ngon ngd
cua mot vung d Zaire co nghla la “vat chan cat
ngang dong song”. Nhutng cau chuyen than ky ve
no da dtfdc ldu truven tti rat sdm (ngay tit nam
23

NHLTNG HIEN TU0NG BI AN CHl/A C6 LOI GIAI
1776). Trong nhang cuon sach viet ve chu de ngudi
chau Au da co gang nha the nao de truyen giao
vao chau Phi cung co ca nhang ghi chep ve loai
dong v&t nay. Cac nha truyen giao da phat hien
nhieu vet chan trong njtng “tuy khong ro rang
nhung nhat dinh la cua mot con vat rat to 16n”.
DucJng ki'nh vet chan do du(dc tdi lm!
Sau khi bade vao the ky 20, Hugh Wimaski.
ngUdi sang lap ra Hoi dong v&t hoc bi ^n da chi ra
rang, con v$t de lai da'u chan 16n nha vay it nhat
phai to nha con ha ma hohe con voi 16n. Nhang lam
sao lai co th§ nha the dadc? Trong truyen thuyet mot so truyen thuyet da dape chOng thac • loai vat
nay r&t giong khung long co dai, nhang loai nay da
bi diet chung ta 65 trieu n5m trade roi!
NhCng ndm 70 cua the ky 19, Smit • mot thanh
nien lam viec trong mot cong ty buon ban cua Anh
- trong qua trinh cong tac da qua lai rat nhieu lan
doc theo con song Augu. Vai nam sau, mot nha v&n
da giup anh ta ghi chep lai qua trinh nay, cuon
tidu thuyet co ten la “Tid'ng coi tau” la mot cuon
sach ban rat chay trong ndm 1927. Trong sach de
cap den mot loai vat thin bi song d cac vung ho
ddm, song ngoi chau Phi: “Toi da nhin thay dau
chan cua Amolis, no to nha vet chan cua con gau
ldn, co ba cha khong phai la 5 mong vudV'. Nam
24

JEROME CLARKE & NANCY PEEL
1909, vien trung uy Graz trong mot chuyen du lich
doc theo cac con song thuoc Trung Phi cung da
phat hien ra loai vat khong 16 nay d Dambia, mot
con vat ma bat cu' ngu'di dan dia phddng nao nhac
tdi cung deu tai mat.

LOAI VAT NLTA VOI NlfA KHUNG LONG
Hagienboik, nha thu thap tieu ban dong vat
noi tieng the gicii la ngiroi dau tien lam cho cong
chiing chu y tdi loai vat nav. Trong cuon sach “Thu
j

\

•

va ngitdi'' xuat ban nam 1909 cua minh, ong da ghi
lai viec ong tim hieu loai vat nay nhd the nao:
Trong mot lan tham hiem, mot thanh vien ngtfdi
Anh da ke cho ong nghe chuyen co mot loai vat
“ntfa voi mia khung long” dang song d Trung Phi.
Trifdc do, ong da dtfdc mot nha ttf nhien hoc noi ve
loai vat nay theo lcli ke cua mot tho dan dia
phiidng. Ong cho rang, con vat nay nghe ra co the?
“la mot loai khung long, mot ho hang cua loai than
\kn sam”. Ong rat hdng thu vdi nhUng thong tin

nay nen da cii mot to tham hiem den nhuEng ndi ma
cac bao cao noi co loai vat kia xuat hien. NbiJng do
benh tat va long thu han cua tho dan dia phiidng,
nen ho khong the den ndi da dinh dutdc, cupc tham
hiem phai huy bo.

NHLfNG HIEN TU0NG BI AN CHl/A CO LCtI G1AI
Mot thanh vien trong doan noi vdi ong rang,
ong ta cam thay rat la la tai sao cl vung nay (nay
la Dambia) lai khong he phat hien ra mot con ha
ma nao ca, Ngildi dan diidng cho ho giai thich
rang, trnng ho dam d day co mot loai quai vat smh
song, chinh loai nav da giet chet het ha ma, mot so
ndi khac cung nghe diidc cac tin ttfdng til
Nhufng si! kien nav da gay ra nhQng anh
hifdng trai ngiidc rat Idn d chau Phi, chau Au va
My. Bao chi lien tuc dita tin ve nhutng chuyen nhtf
vay, moi ngddi co du cac thai do til nghi ngd den
hdng thu vdi chuyen nay. Nhufng vai thang sau,
cau chuyen nay cung nhat dan va ft ai de y den
m3a. Nam 1911, mot quan chhc thuc dan cua Bac
Rhodesia ten la Melande da phat bieu tren mot
tap chf dia ly rang: “Nhufng dong vat dtfdc ngifdi ta
coi la than lan sam hay mot loai khung long nao
do nghe noi song trong cac ho nildc, nhilng ban
than toi lai eh if a nghe difdc tin gi ve chung ca \
Nam 1913, chinh phu Dilc ciJ vien thudng uy
Juylinis dan quan tdi vung Camalung gin bien
gidi cua Conggo de tien hanh cong tac do dac.
Trong bao cao chinh thdc - bao cao nay phai may
nam sau mdi dildc cong bo - ong co nhac tdi mot
vung ha luu cua ba con song thuoc Conggo ma rat
nhieu ngildi noi 6 do co loai vat Mo Ke Li Mo Bi Mo
26

•JEROME CLARKE & NANCY PEEL
Bi. Vien thudng uy nay viet; “Nghe noi con vat nay
CO the mau naa lihat, da bong loang. dau nhu dau
ha ma hoac con voi to; co mot chiec cb dai rat Iinh
boat. Mot so' ngu'di khac noi chung co mot cai duoi
rat khoe va dai gio'ng nhu duoi ca sail. Da co vfu
chiec thuyen doc mcic nho dinh den gan no. nhung
deu bi no tieu diet: con quai vat tan cong con
thuyen ngav, giet chet het moi ngUdi, nhung
khong an thit ai ca”.
Mot thanh vien bo sung: *'Nghe noi con quai vat
song d cho nude chav xiet” va “ban ngay chting bo
Jen bd tim thric an, chung chi an thuc vat, dan dia
phUdng cho biet loai cay ma chung thudng an la
mot loai day leo. hoa to mau trang, co nhieu nhUa
trang nhU sUa, khi thanh qua giong nhU qua tao
vay”. 0 canh dong song Samme, dan dia phUdng chi
vao mot con dudng nho va noi rang “do la do con vat
dL kiem an tao ra \ Con dudng nay hoan toan mdi,
ben canh qua thuc moc rat nhieu loai cay ke Iren.
Do co qua nhieu vet chan de lai tren dudng nen ho
A
khong the nhan ra dau la dau chan quai vat.
9

Trong vong 20 nam sau, ngUdi ta da thng cii
vai doi di dinh tieu diet loai than \hn sam, nhUng
chang co ket qua gi. Trong mot lan tham hiem vao
nam 1938, mot nha tham hiem ngUdi Diic da thu
thap dUtic rat nhieu bao cao ve loai Mo Ke Li Mo
27

NHUNG HTEN TLT0NG BI AN CHtfA CO L01 GTAI
Bi Mo Bi, nhtfng trong mot lan bi ngitdi xau d do
tan cong, toan ho tai lieu nay da bi mat sach,
Neu co nhrtng bai viet va sit hijlng thu nghien
ciiu ve loai vat nay cua cac nha khoa hoc nbii nha
dong vat hoc bi an Sundersen va mot so ngufdi
khac thi h^n ngtfdi ta da quen chuyen nay tu: rat
lau roi.
Trong cuon sach “Truy theo dau chan nhflng
loai dong vat chita bieV* cua Wimasti xuat ban
nam 1958, tac gia da danh han mot chtfdng viet ve
loai vat nay.

KHAM PHA NHLTNG DIEU CHl/A BIET
Nhnfng nam 60 cua the ky 20, mot nha dong
vat hoc bo sat tre tuoi ten la Bower sau khi doc
nhijtng cuon sach noi tieng cua hai ong Sundersen
va Hugh Wimaski da cam thay rat hdng thu vo'i
viec loai khung long co dai co the con ton tai d chau
Phi. Nam 1972, trong khi nghien cdu loai ca sau
song trong vung tay chau Phi, ong da nay ra y
dinh to minh den Cong hoa Conggo de tim hieu bi
mat cua loai Mo Ke Li Mo Bi Mo Bi. Qua 4 nam
het she co" gang, nhung ong van chu'a ditdc phep
vao Conggo va danh phai huv bo ke hoach nay.
28

Tranh ve ve loai Mo Ke Li Mo Bi Mo Bi
hinh ngi/di dung de so sanh.

NHUfNG CHl/NG CL/ DAY

si/C

NANG MA

THO DAN Dl/A RA
Tai ndi do. cuo'i cung Bower da tim dude mot
ngUdi tan mat nhin thay loai quai vat kia. Chang
29

NH0NC H1EN TU0NG BI AN CHITA CO 1X)T GIAI
chd phai hoi den, ngUdi nay da chu dong nhac tdi
mot loai cay ma loai vat kia dung lam thiic an
chinh. Nha khoa hoc tre nay dua ra cho anh ta anh
cua rat nhicu loai vat. Anh ta chi vao anh mot con
khung long. Thi nghiem dUdc tien hanh vdi tat ca
nhung ngUdi nhin thay khac 6 ndi do cung cho ket
qua tUong tuL Dau nam 1979, Bower lai quay trd
lai ndi do lhn nha de thu thap them cac chting c\i
khac ttf nhQng ngUdi nhin thav.
Thang 2 nam 1980, Bower tien hanh cuoc
tham hiem thu ba. Lan nay cimg di con co nha
sinh vat hoc Mack cua TrUdng Dai hoc Chicago
cung la ngUdi rat say me nghien chu nhung loai
dong vat bf an. Hai ngUdi tap trung tham hiem
vung luu vUc song Sangha va Obachi thuoc mien
bac Conggo. Mack cho rdng> do sU phat trien
khong nghng cua nganh van tai thuy nen kha
nang Mo Ke Li Mo Bi Mo Bi buoc phai di chuyen
len vung Li Kola xa xoi hdn, day la vung ho dam
rong ldn chua dUdc khai pha.
Hai nha khoa hoc dung cam tien vao vung nay,
nhung cung chang phat hien dUdc gi ca. Ho quyet
dinh dung so" tiem bac va thdi gian con lai di thu
thap cac chitng ch tti nhung ngUdi nhin thay
chung. Giao si Thomas ngUdi My da thng song
nhieu nam d lUu vUc song Obuchi thUdng xuyen
30

JEROME CLARKE & NANCY PEEL
nghe noi ve chuyen Mo Ke Li Mo Bi Mo Bi da dUdc
mdi ra de dan ho den g&p nhijtng ngucu khac. Mot
diem chung ma nhting ngu'di do mieu ta lam ngtfdi
ta giat minh la: “Chung dai tii 5 - 10m. dau va co
rat giong ran, duoi nho ma dai, than tron giong
nhuC ha ma, con 16n nhat to nhii con voi nho”. Ho
noi vdi hai ngu'di rkng “loai vat nay chan ngkn ma
tho, chan sau co ba mong vuot, than khong co
long''. Khi dtia cho ho ...