Survey Sent to Biology Faculty Members
I recently started sending out a survey to biology professors in universities in the United States. Part of the purpose relates to investigating bias in favor of the pterosaur-extinction axiom. The following is part of that survey, three questions:
1) Before receiving this survey, did you know of the word “ropen” in relation to a reported flying creature? (Y/N)
2) Before receiving this survey, did you know anything about any expedition or research in Papua New Guinea, related to the idea that at least one species of extant pterosaur might live there? (Y/N)
3) How would you rate your belief in the possibility of one or more species of extant pterosaur living in Papua New Guinea? You may use a number, 0-100, to rate your belief in relation to these examples: 0 = sure all species of pterosaurs are extinct 100 = sure at least one species is still living
You may reply to any or all three of the above questions in your own words, if you choose. You may also answer less than all three of them.
As of early February 2, 2013, about 5% have responded. Significant details should be available before the end of February.
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From the Book Live Pterosaurs in Australia and in Papua New Guinea
Cryptozoology is not a branch of science, at least not in the usual sense; but it can motivate zoologists to conduct field investigations, at least in theory it can motivate them. It is the “study of hidden animals,” and usually relies less on direct scientific examination and more on eyewitness testimony . . .
The American missionary Thomas Savage, in the 1800’s in Africa, obtained some bones of what we now call a “Western Gorilla,” which prepared for its eventual scientific acknowledgement. Whatever led that missionary to obtain those bones can be called “cryptozoological,” especially if he had been following eyewitness accounts. . . .
Most of the twenty-first century modern-pterosaur expeditions [in the southwest Pacific] have resulted in at least one sighting of at least one distant flying light. We call it by its name on Umboi Island: “ropen.” We believe it is a Rhamphorhynchoid pterosaur and that it has intrinsic bioluminescence.
Most explorers [in Papua New Guinea] have interviewed one or more native eyewitnesses who had dramatic encounters with flying creatures described like pterosaurs: creature sightings much more revealing than distant lights. A few natives have seen, at night or in twilight, such a flying creature as it was glowing. This appears to verify native traditions that the lights come from flying creatures. . . . [Natives have no bias against living creatures described like pterosaurs.]
. . . Some eyewitnesses [those in Western countries like the United States] fear discovering . . . personal insanity. Others fear not insanity itself but the opinions of anyone who might think them insane. Others fear . . . that some of what they had been taught about science was false; they prefer to believe that scientific proclamations must always be true [bias against the possibility of an extant pterosaur]. How grateful I am for those who, in spite of their fears, report to me their encounters!
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Pterosaur Sightings and Statistics
Since the two ropen expeditions of 2004 (on Umboi Island, Papua New Guinea), a few biologists and non-biologists have written about . . . pterosaur sightings . . . very few. But many of those writings have been dismissive . . .
Flying creatures observed in the state of Georgia, according to the reports I have received from eyewitnesses, resemble apparent pterosaurs of other states and indeed of other countries.
Eskin Kuhn – Sighting of two Pterosaurs
Eskin C. Kuhn watched the two “pterodactyls” fly over part of the Guantanamo Bay military installation (Cuba) in 1971, in clear daylight and at “close range.” Within a few minutes, he began sketching what he had seen.
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