How smart is the yowie?

[Mr Fixxxer]

I?ve decided to make this my first post after observing this site for a time.

I was just wondering what people?s thoughts are regarding the intelligence of the Yowie.

Here is my tentative theory. I think yowies are more than just extremely smart animals. I believe the reason that no rock-hard, conclusive, indisputable evidence of their existence has been found is that they are, in general terms, as smart as, or smarter than us.

Let me explain it this way. What is intelligence? Is it what we actually know, our IQ? No, I don?t think so. I believe our intelligence is measured by our capacity to learn and function in our various environments.

An example. Send a mathematician, who grew up in suburbia, was educated at Uni etc to the jungles of New Guinea to spend some time with a native in the jungle who knows the ways of his local environment. Who?s smarter?
Is it the mathematician, who probably has an IQ of over 150, or the native tribesperson who most likely is illiterate? If you sat them both down for a calculous test, obviously the mathematician would win. However dumped in the middle of a jungle, where survival skills are paramount, the native tribesperson would obviously prevail.
My point is this, if roles were reversed and the tribesperson grew up in suburbia and the mathematician in the New Guinea jungle, chances are both would attain a high level of proficiency in their chosen field or environment, because they both share a common, high capacity to learn. It just happens to be directed in different ways, because they grew up in different environments.

I think the same applies to the yowie. Perhaps its appearance as an overly large ape like creature leads us to think it shares comparable intelligence or capacity to learn to an Organa tang or Chimpanzee.
If yowies were as least as smart as us, maybe their capacity to learn has been directed so wholly to the environment they chose to live in, that they have become the supreme masters of their domain (dodgy Seinfeld quote I know), and understand nature and the environment to a level that some us can comprehend engines, computers or other technology.
The flesh and blood v paranormal thread on this board was fascinating. I admit, I?m a F and B man, but some of the paranormal arguments are compelling. Perhaps yowies know how to manipulate their surrounding environment to perform some of the amazing feats documented (ie seemingly disappearing on the spot), because the surrounding environment is what it has focussed its mind and learning capacity on.
I think also, as with humans, there are smart yowies, dumb yowies and those of average intelligence. I think there are yowies that are naturally gentle and placid and others that are inherently cruel and aggressive.

I know assigning human values to the yowie is dangerous, but to my original point again, I think they are at least a smart as us. I think they know when they confront us in the bush they scare us, the same way we humans know if a small child or animal is fearful of us.

Obviously this is all theoretical, and I have no time in the ?field? to back any of this evidence up. But Dean I was wondering, when you go out to hunt the yowie, do you hunt it as an extremely smart animal, or do you think of it as your equal or even better.

Maybe this theory isn?t even new, I just formulated it from the scattered case reports I?ve read on this site and in books over the years and I hope it makes some sense

Let?s hear some opinions people.

[Guest]

Well, Im not going to write a big long post like you did..lol..
but I think that the Yowies are of average intelligence...but more curios and agressive than intelligent..they have no tools, clothes etc...

[dawn]

Great one, they have no need of clothing with all that hair! What do you concider untensils? You don't need to mainifacture pottery or make spear heads if you can use the envirament. Our own ancestors didn't start the pottery thing until they became more stabilized with the way they gained food. If you use a rock to crack open a coconut, then that rock is a tool! Do they have the ability to make fire if needed? We don't really know! We probabily know about 3% of the things that make a Yowie tick(If we're lucky! LOL!)

[Guest]

Im talking about early man tools...like the Neanderthols did maybe...they're not as advanced as they were....apparently from what ive read anyway....thats what I mean by utensils...if they ARE smart they would have started hunting US by now, maybe by use of spears...but there has never been evidence of spears used, so therefore they cant be as intelligent as you think they are...if they were they would be USING spears...spears would be ALOT more effective if you were hunting say a wild pig....even though the yowie has brute strength, it doesnt mean that it can sneak up on a pig without alerting it...if they were smart they would have projectiles of such...like spears...so then they wouldnt need to sneak up on the pig...they could kill it from a distance...maybe if they study US more they will start to adopt out ways of life...maybe...

[Guest]

A spear used the right way would be alot more effective and efficient for ANYONE rather than being a 400+ pound 8ft creature trying to sneak up on its prey...
Yowies arent necessarily going after pigs all the time..but I was just using at as an example...the more agressive yowies would benefit from spears when we come to close to them...

[Dion]

What is intelligence? Is it what we actually know, our IQ? No, I don?t think so. I believe our intelligence is measured by our capacity to learn and function in our various environments.

If yowies were as least as smart as us, maybe their capacity to learn has been directed so wholly to the environment they chose to live in, that they have become the supreme masters of their domain,

I think also, as with humans, there are smart yowies, dumb yowies and those of average intelligence. I think there are yowies that are naturally gentle and placid and others that are inherently cruel and aggressive.

Some very good points made there! Thanks

As for the reason why they dont have spears or material objects for their intelligence,well do we have to judge a intelligent being on it's material evoulution. No! I dont think so. I dont believe they need material objects to be intelligent.

[Mr Fixxxer]

Great one, I see some of your points, but would it really be smart for yowies to hunt us. Think about it. There is a sudden rash of yowie attacks across the country, with people reporting 8 foot creatures jumping out at them from the bush and/or continued reports of hikers disappearing in heavily wooded areas. It would be pretty hard for skeptics to deny their existence if that happened.
Most of the reports I have read tell of people being chased, not attacked by yowies, an important distinction.
If they did become a threat to humans, authorities and others would start hunting them, and then they would be in real trouble, because despite their 'smarts' and ability to operate within their environment, there are simply more of us.
They are creatures that seem to enjoy, relish and understand their anonimity.
If they are a creature of only average intelligence, how do they keep avoiding being captured?

[Alex]

Mr. Fixxxer, I totally agree with your post.

I believe they are as smart as we are, if not smarter. Because hey, they've lived in the bush alot longer than we have. They know it back to front, and if they want to get away from someone, they will, no second thoughts about it.

Personally, I think if someone went & actually hunted a yowie, they'd have no chance. For these reasons:

1. Guns seem to have litte effect against them.
2. As I mentioned above, they know the bush back to front.
3. They're in their element, people would be worrying about what's up ahead.
4. Just say, someone came face to face with a yowie. What would be the chances of survival. I assume, like dogs, Yowies can smell fear, etc. So, if you're scared, they will take advantage of that.

It's as Charles Darwin said, "survival of the fittest".

In this case, the yowies are very fit in their enviroment.

[bowhunter]

Well here's what i think. Smarts to me is being able to survive with ONLY what you need to do so...people say humans are smart...i say they're the dumbest animals in the world. If we're so smart why are we the only animals in the world with the power to help the world and the only ones who are ruining it...real smart.And although its hard to create all of our technoligie but what the hell is it all for? As for tools i think yowie's use what they need. Im sure living in such heavily wooded area is a hassle for an 8 foot ewok but imagine trying to carry a spear too? I think they are smart. Smart enough to realise they dont need tools,Smart enough to realise humans are bad @ss news.

[Buck]

I like your question Mr Fixxit. However, I'm not sure if the comparison of seclusion versus IQ is the way to go.

If you think of animals like the

Okapi (Giraffid) - discovered - 1901
Coelocanth - ( Fish ) discovered - 1936, re-discovered 1952
Megamouth Shark ( Cat - lol) discovered 1976

all recently are discovered despite existing for Aeons. It doesn't take intelligence to be secluded... mainly ingnorance from us.

Despite the many documented sightings from reliable sources post colony and precolony, the yowie is still not accepted in mainstream society. We tend to only believe things when they have been classified.

With the tool part of you question.

Weaver birds build complex nests with materials.
Bower birds have been shown to have artistic flair.
Ants build entire cities with rudimentary but very sophisticated air conditioning.

As for hunting pigs, aren't they feral and a recent introduction. If we're going to base a Yowies intelligence on if he makes a spear to catch a pig, should we give him a little time to adapt?

Cheers Buck