| In Seram of the Maluku Islands, also known as the | | | | nearby Southeast Asian and Pacific regions, such as |
| Moluccas archipelago of Indonesia, lives a creature that | | | | Vietnam and the Philippines. Another version of the |
| has fueled both the curiosity and fear of the locals. | | | | Orang Bati, called the ahool in Java, is described as |
| Known as Orang Bati, or in Indonesian terms, the | | | | possibly being a giant bat. The same description applies |
| winged man, the creature resembles a human or giant | | | | for residents of the Philippines, where they believe |
| ape with bat-like wings. | | | | giant bats to be responsible for killing livestock in the |
| Historical accounts of Christian missionaries visiting the | | | | villages. First thought to be flying monkeys, these |
| islands during the 15th to 16th century narrate how a | | | | versions of the Orang Bati could possibly be a cross |
| winged monster has raided and terrorized the village | | | | between birds and bats, possibly even large eagles. |
| of Uraur in Seram. The residents fear the creature, as | | | | A similar large flying creature has also been sighted in |
| it is known to abduct infants and children when it feeds | | | | several regions around the world. In these accounts, |
| at night. The monster is also said to raid nearby | | | | however, the creature is not mammalian nor does it |
| villages. According to these locals, the Orang Bati lives | | | | resemble humanoid forms. Paleontologists, or those |
| during the daytime on Mount Kairatu, a dormant | | | | who study prehistoric animals, find that these creatures |
| volcano with a network of deep caves on the island | | | | resemble the flying dinosaurs, so they are more |
| of Seram. | | | | reptilian or avian rather than mammal. |
| The Orang Bati has an ape-like body, much like a | | | | The kongomato of Zambia in Central Africa have |
| human standing four to five feet tall, with red skin on its | | | | been described as large flying animals with reddish |
| body. The creature has large black leathery wings and | | | | complexion and with wings covered in leathery skin. |
| a long tail, compared to rhamphorhynchoid species of | | | | The kongomato was also sighted in Rhodesia, Angola, |
| flying dinosaurs or pterosaurs. Some accounts | | | | and the Congo. In Papua New Guinea, however, this |
| describe the wings and tail as covered with thick black | | | | creature's name is ropen, which means flying demon in |
| fur. Villagers often hear the Orang Bati's arrival by the | | | | the vernacular. Accounts from the natives claim that |
| sound of its shrill wail, similar to that of pterosaurs. | | | | the ropen also eats human flesh. |
| One of the most mentioned accounts of the Orang | | | | There is a website that describes the Orang Bati and |
| Bati were that of the English missionary named Tyson | | | | numerous other creatures of Cryptozoology in detail, |
| Hughes, who went to the Moluccas to help the | | | | this website is called: Unknown Creatures and it may |
| villagers with their farming systems in 1987. At first the | | | | be found at this url: |
| British man was skeptical about the Orang Bati and | | | | You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter or |
| the stories the locals tell. During his 18 month mission, | | | | on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety |
| Hughes and the rest of his team admitted that the | | | | and without modification except for formatting needs |
| village tales were actually true. | | | | or grammar corrections. |
| Comparable creatures have been said to exist in | | | | |