Yowie sighting near Cairns, Queensland.

[David]

Latest AYR audio report..

I think the description of a humanlike "aboriginal" face is interesting as well as a physical interaction.

https://youtu.be/MAHDidJ2OpM

[Yowie bait]

Yeah its a good close up description. Like an Aboriginal human face. Heard that a few times and from Aboriginals as well in the Healy / Cropper book sightings section.

Seems the Hairy ones arent so keen on eye contact...

[bassplyr]

I particularly like this case. I believe upon analysis, the incident relays some thought provoking material into better understanding the nature of the yowie.

Below is some of my personal speculation regarding the incident.

First of all its in Cairns. Beautiful location. But also an interesting location. The small hill would have made an attractive vista to see the the city lights at night and all the weird human buildings and cityscape nearby.

At the time, in the early nineties when the incident too place, there was still enough bush for it to trek through cover back and forth to the hill without it being spotted as easily during the night. However, critical in my analysis, its my opinion the location also didn't lend to a good claim territory wise. Not enough food or shelter on the hill to sustain it for any periods of time. It would need a larger range and to return to the rainforest to feed. Sure it could have raided rubbish bins on occasion. But thats taking an awfully big risk for relatively low payout to actually venture deep into human settlement like that. And, due to its location, its also not a great place to raise a family with all the pesky and dangerous humans around. In my opinion, movement for the yowie would have been too limited during the daytime on that hill or along the route it would need to take to return to the forest to make it an ideal location to claim as territory.

I think the yowie was a curious critter and was using that hill as a lookout to satisfy its said curiosity. Since the location is so close to human habit it would probably have hunkered down there during the day and likely felt reserved to travel back to the rainforest outside the city only at night. I propose its plausible it stayed too long one night and was stuck 'behind the lines' and had to hunker down in a day bed till
The following evening before it had a decent opportunity to egress back into the forest. So I believe thats why it was there in the first place during the daytime.


Why did it attack the witness? It could simply not like eye contact and attacked to assert its claim to the hillside. But, I believe thats too simple an explanation. It would have been far easier for it to flee and hide in such contested an area. Humans likely hike trails over that small hill daily due to its location. Again, it's probably smart enough of a creature to understand that the area wasn't a place to contest as territory or call home. However, in this circumstance fleeing wasnt much of a viable option either. Daylight. Too many humans out and about. It probably needed to rely on not being detected to get through the day.

A telling clue into its possible behavior is what it did regarding the other hiker in area. In the incident, the hiker said the creature was peering down at another hiker, probably trying to confirm (and hoping) that he hadnt been spotted. With its attention focused on the other hiker it probably had no idea that the witness was there and got caught. Exactly what it was hoping to avoid.

In a situation like this where it cant run but also cant be found out, it left the yowie in a dilemma. What to do with the witness. I believe it thought about it briefly before deciding to dipatch the witness so that his presence would remain unknown. Unfortunately the yowie screwed up for a third time that day. (1st. Being stuck on that hillside during the day. 2nd being detected) it knocked the fleeing witness down the hill and towards a location that if it continued to persue would have made the yowies situation worse and the odds of remaining undetected much harder. It had no choice but to abandon its attempt. It probably then had to make the choice. Still wait for nightfall and hope the humans wouldn't return in mass like theyre known to do. Or take the risk and egress out to the rainforest in daylight. Either way its likely the yowie was having a rotten day.

Id like to hear thoughts or feedback into my theory of why the incident took place and as to the motivations to the yowies actions and behavior. Of course, all I've put forward above is simply my own theory and opinion after considering the data and weighing the dynamics of the situation. But I'd be interested in other members speculation and discussion of the details of the case.

[Dean Harrison]

I have been speaking with a Bill O'Chee, who lived in Currawong Street in 1990. He tells me in 1990, Currawong Street was terminated at the saddle and Sunbird Drive did not exist. He said back then there was a lot of grass on Red Hill and the large hill to the west is rainforest (wet/dry Sclerophyll forest) that lead onto where Currawong Street is now, and this lead to the back of Red Hill (The hill in question).

So basically, it was a clear path of forest from the west in 1990. We all know they roam both day and night and are no strangers to the fringe of human population.



DMH

[bassplyr]

Continuing on with the discussion pertaining to this case I'd like to bring up one more point for consideration.

Again the location of Cairns in regards to the yowie's stature.

Cairns and the surrounding rainforest is a totally different biome than found elsewhere in Australia or where the yowies have been seen. Different food sources and considerations for the yowie to contend with.

The witness said the yowie was no taller than him. 5'7" maybe. Thats shorter than the usual description of 7' +.

I speculate that with yowies, and other similars such as yaren and sasquatch, that the denser the bush the smaller the sub-species. And why not. Same thing happens to humans who live in the jungle (african pygmies, amazon tribesmen. Even the maya) tigers do it. (Sumatran tigers) elephants, rhinos etc. Sasquatch reported in the subtropics of the americas are smaller than those found in more open forests with less undergrowth. Why not the same thing with yowies.

I speculate that the yowie in this story was small in size not because he was a juvenile but because of where hes from.

Any thoughts by members to this proposition?

[bassplyr]

I agree with you that from reports there was a path the creature could have taken to be relatively concealed. Including to a degree during the day. But i also inject that it wasn't optimal for a creature who spends most of its time trying not to be detected to travel the corridor in daylight.

True they roam where humans are. Some carelessly. But in general I would think they try and remain as low a profile as posdible when at a disadvantage habitat wise as far as detection goes. Theres still significant risk of the animsl roaming during the daytime to be spotted in that location. Even back then. If its bush craft is any good, it would chose to remain bedded or concealed during the daytime and limit its movement to attract less attention. Roam under cover of dark.

I think this one got careless and thats why it was there during the daytime and why it got caught. And that it was out of its normal range. Maybe just curious and having a gander at the human structures or trying its luck at hoping to raid the rubbish for food. But they arent stupid animals. Its not a good location for permanent nesting or for claiming territorally.

[bassplyr]

Also, while I have the opportunity to do so.

May I add that its a pleasure to interact with you Dean in this thread. Even if just a little bit.

Always followed your research believing youre one of the absolute best in this field especially pertaining to yowies.

[Simon M]

I have been speaking with a Bill O'Chee, who lived in Currawong Street in 1990.

Is this the same Bill O'Chee who used to be a Federal National Party Senator in the 1990's? He's gone on record with his own sighting which involved himself and several other witnesses. Probably a different bloke entirely but as it's such an unusual surname I had to ask.

[Bluedog]

Continuing on with the discussion pertaining to this case I'd like to bring up one more point for consideration.


I speculate that with yowies, and other similars such as yaren and sasquatch, that the denser the bush the smaller the sub-species. And why not. Same thing happens to humans who live in the jungle (african pygmies, amazon tribesmen. Even the maya) tigers do it. (Sumatran tigers) elephants, rhinos etc. Sasquatch reported in the subtropics of the americas are smaller than those found in more open forests with less undergrowth.

Interesting thoughts. Having lived in Cairns, I can say that the city backs right up to the rain forest and mountains. The rain forest is incredibly thick and dense in places and is probably better described as jungle. There are valleys and gorges in Far North Queensland that I'm sure no human has ever set foot. Perfect habitat to remain hidden with relatively little human contact. Even though I believe there are alot more encounters in the area we never hear about. In Kuranda I think it's a bit of a locals secret that they don't talk to outsiders about..
Yowies could comfortably live relatively close to Cairns and remain undetected.

[Dean Harrison]

Hi Bluedog, That was just how I had it described to me. Thank you.

Simon, yes the same Bill O’Chee.

Bassplyr, thanks for the kind words.



DMH

[bassplyr]

Hi bluedog.

I agree. there are always more encounters than reported. I travel back and forth between Queensland and south Carolina several times a year. I was doing work in upstate south carolina and one day asked half joking if anybody had ever seen a 'wood booger' two guys on my crew raised their hands. neither had ever reported it. Was just something the locals knew about but didnt talk so much about. But they were both dead serious. One was a supervisor so I didnt pressure him for details the other a grumpy old man who wouldnt give much details other than to swear hed seen one. I myself, along with a best friend believe we heard the vocalizations of a very large one up in the sierras of central California on a fishing trip. Neither of us reported it.

[Simon M]

That's interesting. He's always been one to stick to his guns, so having Bill O'Chee being so open about this is helpful in terms of mainstream credibility.

I actually think people are more open to publicly discussing or considering this concept now than they might have been twenty years ago. The existence of AYR is an example of this, I think.