Ever heard of the Sex Tree aka the coco de marā¦ another Natural Mystery.
It only exists in a small vally on the islands of Praslin and Curieuse in the Republic of the Seychelles, off the east coast of Africa.
The coco de mar or sea coconut or double coconut (Lodoicea maldivica), is a palm tree and the sole member of the genus Lodoicea. It formerly also was found on the small islets of St Pierre, Chauve-Souris and Ile Ronde (Round Island), all located near Praslin, but has become extinct there. The name of the genus, Lodoicea, is derived from Lodoicus, the Latinised form of Louis, in honour of King Louis XV of France.
The best place to see the coco de mar is in the Vallee de Mai on Praslin island. This lush tropical vally was once thought by Gordon of Khartoum to be the biblical Garden of Eden.
Coco de Mar ā the double coconut
He not only believed that it was the Garden of Eden, he tried heās hardest to prove it. He believed the Coco de Mai was the biblical tree of knowledge of good and evil. Eating its fruit caused Adam and Eve to be banished from the garden. The tree is one of the most endangered in the world. It once covered almost the whole of the island.
Itās the trees fruit with its erotic shape which was its downfall. The nuts were highly prized when found washed up on Indian Ocean shore lines and in the thirteenth century were worth as much as four thousand gold florins.
No one knew where they were coming from. When their location in the Seychelles was finally discovered, most of the forests were raised to the ground in an attempt to maintain their value.
Coco de Mar catkin
Their resemblance to the human body is also present in the male tree. Its catkin has a similarity to the male sex organ. Thereās no wonder that this exotic and intriguing tree some of which live for over 1000 years has its own legend.
Episode 2
1) Indonesia : KILLER CROCS (DUR: 7ā19)
Killer Crocodiles
For decades, Indonesia has been home to giant prehistoric beasts that lurk beneath the water. Animal X travelled to southern Irian Jaya to investigate the incredible reports of killer crocodiles, some over nine metres long, that have been blamed for the deaths of more than fifty men, women and children. Our expedition took us deep into the Asmat jungle where we discovered a rich and superstitious culture revolving around spirits, myths and legends. Animal X also looked at one of the most famous disappearances from the region in the 1960s ā that of Michael Rockefeller, son of famous New York Governor, Nelson Rockerfeller. Theories vary from head-hunters to the notorious killer croc.
2) Australia : FIZO The Hero Dog (DUR: 6ā34)
Fizo the Wonder Dog
Eight year old Sydney terrier, Fizo, became the first animal in Australia to win the RSPCAās Purple Cross award for bravery, after saving three children from a brown snake. Fizo was struck several times by the poisonous snake before biting the snake in half. Fizo spent the rest of the day on a respirator and it took another six months for his full recovery.
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26) South Africa : HOWICK FALLS MONSTER (DUR: 9ā47)
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Howick Falls Monster
For thousands of years Howick Falls, in the South African province of Kwa-Zulu Natal has been the source of legends. The Zuluās believe a giant snake, known as Inkanyamba inhabits the pool at the bottom of the falls. Rock paintings from the region show that the Bushmen who lived here before the Zulus also believed in the giant snake. Inkanyamba is feared and respected by the local community. It is believed to carry the spirits of the ancestors and bring death to anyone who sees it. Only witchdoctors or Sangomas are permitted to visit the pool where it is believed to live. Several Europeans are also convinced that a strange monster lurks in the depths. Bob Teeney took a photograph of a plesiosaur-type animal that he claims surfaced when he visited the pool with a friend. He also claims to have found eggs belonging to a dinosaur. Experts think the eggs are more likely those of a crocodile. There is no doubt however that Howick Falls possess a mysterious allure. This could explain the large number of people who are attracted to the falls to end their own lives.
Are Lizardmen roaming the American woods? Is it true that aliens in the shape of lizards abduct humans and transport them to their spacecraft? Some people believe that a remnant of the dinosaur era may have survived the ages and continued to evolve into a humanoid being.
Daniel and Natalie are on a journey beyond known science to a world of Lizardmen and Aliens. What was lurking in the Bishopville swamp that almost scared young Christopher Davis to death? The lie-detector test that police gave him proves beyond doubt that he saw something out there.
In this compelling episode, the Animal X ā Natural Mystery Unit talks to eyewitnesses who claim theyāve seen Reptoid Creatures standing more than 210 centimeters (7 feet) tall with glowing red eyes and scales. We meet people who tell stories of alien creatures coming into their bedroom at night and we analyze vision filmed by the Mexican Air Force that scientist can only explain as being UFOās.
Listen to the evidence and decide for yourself. We may not be alone in this universe and creatures from other planets may be visiting us here on Earth.
This artistās concept shows the test vehicle for NASAās Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD), designed to test landing technologies for future Mars missions. A balloon will lift the vehicle to high altitudes, where a rocket will take it even higher, to the top of the stratosphere, at several times the speed of sound. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
A saucer-shaped vehicle that could help NASA land big payloads on the surface of Mars is about to take to the skies for the first time.
NASA hopes to launch its Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD) test vehicle ā which the agency has dubbed its own āflying saucerā ā Thursday (June 5) from the U.S. Navyās Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii. The balloon-aided liftoff was originally scheduled for today (June 3), but the weather did not cooperate.
āAfter years of imagination, engineering and hard work, we soon will get to see our Keiki o ka honua, our āboy from Earth,ā show us its stuff,ā LDSD project manager Mark Adler, from NASAās Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, said in a statement. [NASAās Inflatable Flying Saucer for Mars Landings (Photos)]
Retired police dog Bosun, who helped nab the gunman who murdered a detective, has died aged 9. AAP
A Gold Coast police dog who played a key role in the arrest of a gunman who murdered Detective Damian Leeding in 2011 has died.
Retired, heroic police dog Bosun died in the arms of his handler Senior Constable Wayne Algie on Monday.
The German shepherd was nine.
Sen Const Algie described the loyal pooch as a good mate and colleague, adding that he had a great work ethic and would be missed.
āBosun was much loved by his family at home as well as his QPS family,ā he said in a statement on Tuesday.
The police dog had a distinguished career and was well-known for his work helping in the arrest of offenders.
Both Bosun and his handler played a key role in the arrest of the gunman who shot and killed Gold Coast Detective Leeding in May 2011.
The detective was shot in the face after being called to an armed robbery at the Pacific Pines Tavern.
Sen Const Algie and Bosun tracked gunman Phillip Graeme Abell across an exposed paddock and into pitch black bushland where he was arrested.
Abell is serving a life sentence for murder, while his accomplices are also in jail.
In 2012 Bosun spent weeks recovering after being mauled by two dogs during an arrest at Upper Coomera.
That same year he helped officers nab a man, wanted on a string of weapons and theft offences, who ran from police after a pursuit at Pacific Pines.
The famed dog also gave up the bulk of his coat when he was āclipped for a cureā as part of the Leukaemia Foundationās Worldās Greatest Shave fundraiser in 2012.
Bosun, who was awarded the Australian Defence Force Service Medal, had lived with Sen Const Algie since his retirement last year.
Hereās a story from Animal X about other heroic dogs:
Bigfoot, also known as Sasquatch, is the name given to a cryptic ape ā or hominid-like creature that some people believe inhabits forests wilderness areas of the US, In particular the Ā the Pacific Northwest region of North America.
He has also been seen in other wilderness and hard to get to places like the Florida Everglades and Texas.
Bigfoot is usually described as a large, hairy, bipedal humanoid. The term sasquatch is an anglicized derivative of the Halkomelem word sĆ”sqāets.
Most scientists discount the existence of Bigfoot and consider it to be a combination of folklore, misidentification, and hoax. The lack of physical evidence and the large numbers of creatures that would be necessary to maintain a breeding population is the main reason.
However other scientists Grover Krantz and Jeffrey Meldrum and forensic detective Jimmy Chilcutt, to name a few, believe otherwise.
There are many Bigfoot websites links to some of them are here.
In the Meantime here are the Animal X stories about Bigfoot as well as other stuff from our archive. We have also included other reports and sightings here.
Animal X series 1 Episode 5 US Bigfoot.
Bigfoot Files
ForĀ centuries large primates of up to eight feet tall have been spotted across the United States. Although āBigfootā, as the beast has become known, has been sighted in every state, sightings are concentrated in the remote mountainous parts of the country.
In October 1958 a group of loggers came across several human-like footprints in a remote part of the Northern Californian woods. The footprints ranged in length from 12 to 17 inches long and about 7 inches wide. Bigfoot was spotted by several other road construction workers as they hacked a ribbon of civilisation further into the dense bush.
Since then the animal that the Indians call Sasquatch has fascinated adventurers.
One team of experts went into the remote Siskiyou Mountains in Northern California and stayed there for 3 weeks looking for some answers.
The group consisted of Secretary of the International Society of Cryptozoology, Richard Greenwell, his son Darwin, Primatologist Jeffrey Meldrum and their mountain guide Mark Slack found no proof of the existence of Big Foot.
But their experiences added up to a strong case in favour of the creatureās presence. The group found several sets of human-like tracks, measuring up to 16 inches in length. They heard howls and their camp was visited by animals that they couldnāt explain away as bears.
Animal X obtained exclusive material from the teamās expedition into the wilderness. Richard Greenwell suggests Big Foot may be related to the Gigantopithecus that roamed China 300,000 years ago.
He suggests that it may have crossed the Bering land bridge from Asia and into North America and remained in the forests, leading a largely reclusive life.
Hereās the story.
Series 1 Episode 11 Russian Alma or Wildman
Alma
The Russian Alma or wild-man as he is locally known stands a towering seven feet tall, itās man-like body is covered in fur and its eyes are said to have an eerie glow.
It is believed to have telepathic powers and encounters have led to sickness or death. Usually seen in remote areas, eyewitnesses report having seen it as close as 70 kilometres about 50 milesĀ from St. Petersburg. Cryptozoologist, Professor Valentin Sapunov embarked on an expedition to track down the wild-man.
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Animal X went with him to investigateā¦
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Series 1 Episode 12 the Australian Yowie
Australian Bigfoot
The Yowie is said to be a towering two and a half metre ape-like creature. Ā More powerfully built than a human, the Yowie has a dark mane, glowing yellow eyes and an overpowering stench.
Whilst mainstream science spurns the Yowieās existence, high profile politicians such as former Senator Bill OāChee speaks candidly about his Yowie encounter.
A Blue Mountainā community claims to have been plagued by a resident Yowie for several years.Ā Animal X goes Infra-red to investigateā¦
Bigfoot, Sasquatch, Wildman, Noy Rung, Alma, Yowie and many others. Bigfoot has many names and seems to live in many countries. America, Russia, Australia, Nepal, Vietnam, and in some countries in Africa.
Bigfoot files has them all. So if you are interested in stories about unidentified large primates then this is for you.
Just the name Chupacabra scares many people. This Ā vampiric creatureĀ is seen from Texas to Chile.
It delights in sucking the blood from its victims, leaving them totally exsanguinated. Drained of blood. In some cases the internal organs have somehow been dissolved and sucked out by the Chupacabra.
They are seen all over the world from Loch Ness in Scotland to Lake Van in Turkey. From Canada to Sweden. From the San Francisco Bay to the Docks of Wales.
Are they an undiscovered new species or an ancient remnant from the dinosaur age?
What ever these lake and sea monsters are there are plenty of people who have seen them.
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Scary Monster Files
Scary Monster Files
Every hear of the Goatman. He is horrible. An American legend. Youāve got to watch itā¦
Or may be the Saalaw another horrible giant dog monsterā¦. or maybe the Beast of Gevaudanā¦.. killed nearly 300 people.
Thatās just on land. Under the water thereās Megalodon the biggest shark that ever lived. Bigger than a whale. Could eat a VW Beetle in one bite. Very scary.
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Ghostly Creatures Files
Daniel and Natalie investigating
Do you believe in ghosts? In this file youāll find ghostly cats, ghostly lions, phantom dogs and devil dogs.
We meet people who have communicated with their dead pets. Have seen the ghost of their dead dog.
Thereās some spooky and weird stuff in this fileā¦..
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Weird Nature and Natural Mysteries Files
Luminous Scorpion ā bioluminance.
Thereās some really weird stuff in this file too. Cows that have discovered the Elixir of Life. Scorpions that glow in the dark. Fish that fall from the sky. Frogs that live for hundreds of years locked in stone.
Are animals psychic? Can they read minds?
Some day dolphins can. And thereās a woman in New York who says her bird can read her mind. All these and more in these filesā¦.
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Dog Files
Dog Files
Britainās Phantom Black Dogs is just one of the scarier stories about dogs in this file.
There are many nice stories too. Like the Fizo the Wonder Dog who saved his owners life or the hypnotising dog.
There are many amazing stories about dogs that have done truly amazing things, proving the saying, there are stranger things in Heaven and Earthā¦..
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Cat Files
ghostly cat
Its thought there are at least 2 billion cats in the world. Thatās a lot of cats and a lot of stories. Weāve a a few of them here.
From the ghostly Black Cat of Killakee to the ghost hunting cat of Pengersick Castle the most haunted castle in England.
There are cat cults and Alien Big Cats that roam over many countries of the world. Did you know there was even a marsupial lionā¦. though he wasnāt really a cat. But youāll find his story here too.
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Nasty Nature Files
Nasty Nature Files
Nature can be nasty and unforgiving. Take the story of Michael Rockefeller believed taken by a crocodile in Papua New Guinea.
Then Thereās New York model Ginger Meadows taken by a killer croc in north west Australia.
Then there are the animals which eat their own. The cannibal loversā¦
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Spooky Files
Spooky Files
There is a supernatural world you knowā¦.. donāt you believe me? Ā Check out some of these stories, they may make you stop and thinkā¦.
Ever heard of Aboriginal Dreamtime? You will meet an Aboriginal Elder who will tell you about the mythical Rainbow Serpent.
In another story you will hear how itās believed this mystical creature saved the lives of some cave divers. Spooky stuffā¦.
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UFO & Alien Files
UFO & Alien Files
What about Aliens? Do they exists.
Are there Lizardmen who abduct or kidnap people while they sleep? Is this true?
Who knowsā¦. but you might like to look at these files where youāll meet 2 people who claim they have been abducted by aliens, as well as a number of other people who believe they have met Aliens.
Look, listen, learn and make up your mind and let us know what you think.
This is a nice story about the rescue of a small dog from freeway drain.
Meet Frankie, a tiny black chihuahua who had spent the majority of his life living in an underground sewer system, until one day when an angel came his way. Hope For Paws, an amazing rescue organization in California, got the call about the dog and rescued him from the filth he knew as home.
Frankieās rescuers took him to a safe place where he was cleaned up and fed. Thatās where he met Miley. Miley was an older dog that instantly took tiny Frankie under his paw and showed him kindness.
The pair instantly bonded and Miley taught Frankie that he didnāt have to be frightened any more. Now, they have found a forever home together and are blessed with one anotherās friendship every day.
