Copyright 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 Jonathan David Whitcomb
Eunice, a school teacher’s wife, described to Carl Baugh an
attempted grave robbery. One night, in April of 1993, near the
northwest coast of Umboi Island, after a large funeral procession
arrived at the burial location, a creature with a glowing red tail
came from the sea. (The tail was described like the glow from
burning embers.) About two hundred mourners were awake when
the creature flew overhead. The villagers banged pots and yelled,
whereupon the intruder flew into a nearby swamp and the light
disappeared.
Grave protection can fail. The missionary Jim Blume interviewed
an old man who described how, before wooden coffins became
popular, the deceased were wrapped in leaves. One night, after a
burial, the ropen approached, glowing brightly; the villagers tried
to stay awake to protect the grave, but the ropen stayed awake
longer: In the morning, the grave was empty.
On Umboi Island, Paul Nation videotaped a middle-aged man, one
night, who recited local legends. Darius declared that the ropen is
like the “spirits of ancient times,” living on the mountain and
coming down to kill game for food. Although he flies around at
night or goes to the beach, he always returns to the mountain.
Darius explained that, although the ropen used to dig up the dead
and carry away the bodies to eat them, he does not do this
anymore. Ropen became “like a man,” with a flesh-and-bone body,
but he is still somewhat “like a spirit.” Brightly shining, he flies
with a tail that looks like it is on fire. (These islanders call glowing
embers “fire,” in contrast to the Western idea of an open flame.) I
later noticed that this recitation of local legends included spiritual
explanations, but the eyewitness accounts [which were more
common] included nothing spiritual.
attempted grave robbery. One night, in April of 1993, near the
northwest coast of Umboi Island, after a large funeral procession
arrived at the burial location, a creature with a glowing red tail
came from the sea. (The tail was described like the glow from
burning embers.) About two hundred mourners were awake when
the creature flew overhead. The villagers banged pots and yelled,
whereupon the intruder flew into a nearby swamp and the light
disappeared.
Grave protection can fail. The missionary Jim Blume interviewed
an old man who described how, before wooden coffins became
popular, the deceased were wrapped in leaves. One night, after a
burial, the ropen approached, glowing brightly; the villagers tried
to stay awake to protect the grave, but the ropen stayed awake
longer: In the morning, the grave was empty.
On Umboi Island, Paul Nation videotaped a middle-aged man, one
night, who recited local legends. Darius declared that the ropen is
like the “spirits of ancient times,” living on the mountain and
coming down to kill game for food. Although he flies around at
night or goes to the beach, he always returns to the mountain.
Darius explained that, although the ropen used to dig up the dead
and carry away the bodies to eat them, he does not do this
anymore. Ropen became “like a man,” with a flesh-and-bone body,
but he is still somewhat “like a spirit.” Brightly shining, he flies
with a tail that looks like it is on fire. (These islanders call glowing
embers “fire,” in contrast to the Western idea of an open flame.) I
later noticed that this recitation of local legends included spiritual
explanations, but the eyewitness accounts [which were more
common] included nothing spiritual.
Cryptozoology Books
Modern Pterosaurs
Amazon.com review for second edition
of nonfiction book “Searching for Ropens:”
“I can hardly put this book down. It is quite
astonishing to read of creatures so large
that they can lift a human up into the air
or rob a corpse from a new grave. They
even glow at night with bioluminescence.
. . . This book is so refreshing. Jonathan
Whitcomb is to be congratulated for giving
us a glimpse of our world denied us by the
wildlife 'experts' from western countries.”
S. Lee "The General" (UK) - FIVE STARS
Nonfiction Books on Cryptids of the World
Priority: Sightings of Living Pterosaurs,
Also Called “Pterodactyls” and “Ropens”
Excerpts, Chapter Two, Second Edition
Sketch by the eyewitness Eskin Kuhn
Searching for Ropens and Finding God, by
Jonathan Whitcomb, was published in 2014
The second edition of the nonfiction “Searching for Ropens” (now in 4th edition)
Searching for Ropens
Third and fourth editions were retitled
“Searching for Ropens and Finding God”
Another review for “Searching for Ropens:”
“I bought this book some time ago expecting
nothing but the typical, boring cryptozoology
book. However, what I found was that it
contains a wealth of INTERESTING informa-
tion on a cryptid that until now, I had known
relatively little about. Mr. Whitcomb's way of
storytelling was captivating to say the least.
His scientific procedures also impressed me.”
J. Navarro - FIVE STARS
Scientific paper on modern pterosaurs -
published in a peer-reviewed journal
(author: Jonathan David Whitcomb)
Contributions of Garth Guessman and
other cryptozoologists who have gone
on expeditions in Papua New Guinea
to search for modern living pterosaurs
“Chronicles of Dinosauria,” by David Woetzel and
Richard Dobbs, is not a cryptozoology book in the
usual sense. It is in religious genre, but it relates
to accounts of modern dinosaurs and pterosaurs
“Live Pterosaurs in Australia and in Papua
New Guinea,” by Jonathan David Whitcomb,
is in true cryptozoology genre. This digital
book explains why pterosaurs are still living.
“Searching for Ropens and Finding God,” also
by Jonathan Whitcomb, has only occasional
references to religion, notwithstanding the
title. It reveals how American Christians have
searched for living pterosaurs and have been
strengthened in their abiding faith in God.
