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The article below was published in the daily newspaper El Tiempo, Bogota, Chile, on October 25, 2002.
Santiago [AFP] - Still dying, the skeletal creature of hardly eight centimeters length, with four legs, of species unknown, constantly moved one of its eyes, which are located in its flanks.
In addition, the strange creature refused to accepts any water or food during eight days, and when it died it mummified rapidly.
The tiny beast lived eight days after being found by a boy in the locality of Las Lagunas, 500 km to the south of Santiago.
The corpse of this rarity has a large head, out of proportion to the body, the eyes are in the flanks, it has a heavy neck and four legs.
Veterinarian Pedro Katàn, who examined it, declared himself unable to establish what species of animal it could be. This led a group of UFO fan to suggest that it may be an extraterrestrial being from a UFO, according to the local newspaper El Mercurio.
It was also discarded that it is a human fetus, because of the different skull bones that are welded to each other, said to the AFP the medical surgeon Mario Dussuel, who had it in his hands.
Dussuel, who is also a psychiatrist, doesn't think that there is any deceit involved in the finding of the animal.
“I interrogated the family together and I spoke separately with each member and I did not find signs of lies, contradictions or exageration. There is no evidence that exists to suggest they are seeking compensation or benefit”, he added.
“It is now necessary to place the creature under observation via electronic microscopy, histology or examination of its DNA”, Dussuel commented.
Note: Dr. Mario Dussuel is a psychiatrist and longtime member of the private ufology group Comite de Estudios de Fenomenos Aereos Anomalos (CEFAA, Committee for the study of Anomalous Aerial Phenomenon). He is well known for his research in the field of alleged abductions by aliens.
Santiago [AFP] - Todavìa agonizante, la esquelética criatura de apenas ocho centìmetros de alto y de cuatro patas, de especie desconocida, movìa constantemente uno de sus ojos, los que tenìa en los costados.
Ademàs, la extraña criatura no quiso aceptar agua ni comida durante ocho dìas y ya muerta se momificò con rapidez.
El bicho viviò ocho dìas después de ser recogido por un niño en la localidad de Las Lagunas, 500 km al sur de Santiago.
El cadàver del raro ser tiene una cabeza grande, desproporcionada al cuerpo, ojos en los costados, cuello grueso y cuatro patas.
El veterinario Pedro Katàn, que lo examinò, se declarò incapaz de establecer de qué especie animal podrìa tratarse, y agrupaciones aficionadas a los Ovnis dijeron que no es un ser terrestre, según refiriò el diario El Mercurio.
También se descarta que sea un feto humano, pues los distintos huesos craneanos estàn soldados entre sì, dijo a la AFP el médico cirujano Mario Dussuel, quien lo tuvo en sus manos.
Dussuel, que también es psiquiatra, no cree que se trate de un engaño.
“Interrogué a la familia junta y hablé con cada miembro por separado y no encontré signos de un montaje, mentiras, contradicciones o mitomanìa. Tampoco existe algún interés de recompensa o beneficio,” agregò el profesional.
“No queda màs que someter la criatura a observaciones de microscopìa electrònica, histologìa o exàmenes de ADN,” comentò Dussuel.
Dr. Virgilio Sanchez-Ocejo
ufomiami@prodigy.net
Source: Ovnis Terra.cl
10-26-2002
On October first of 2002, while vacationing in the Southern Chilean city of Concepcion, a group of family members found what appeared to be a small humanoid creature. The miniscule being measures about 7.2 centimeters long. It has a relatively large head, two arms with long fingers, and two legs. The discovery was first reported by Mega News Service, which is the local news channel in the Santiago area.
According to previously gathered evidence and interviews conducted by journalist Rodrigo Ugarte, the bizarre creature was found among bushes by one of the children during an outdoors trip. The child allegedly picked it up and wrapped it with a piece of paper. The child claims that it stayed alive for about eight days, and in some instances, it even opened its eyes.
Nevertheless, after supposedly being dead for a few days, the small creature displays signs of advanced decomposition; it even appears to be in a strange state of mummification.
Specialists from the University of Chile pointed out to a possibility that it might be a fetus from local wild life, such as a wild cat. However, they have not reached a conclusion to determine the exact species the supposed fetus could be scientifically associated with. They expect to carry out DNA testing in order to come up with a conclusion.
The Henriquez Carreño family described the accounts to Terra.cl News Service, and how 22 days earlier, they found the strange-looking creature. They provided shocking and bizarre details about the discovery. They invited the journalist inside their modest home, located in the suburban area of Pintana.
Julio Carreño, the child that found the tiny creature, was the one in charge of showing it to members of the media. Carefully and jealously guarding it, he brought it inside a first-aid kit box, still marked with a red cross. As he opened the box, the journalists were astounded to see the tiny humanoid-like creature, lying in the center of the box, among carefully placed cotton material.
“It has changed color since we had found it. It used to be more pinkish; now, it has turned darker. May be it is turning darker because we are keeping it in the refrigerator,” he explained. And indeed, some areas of its tiny body look almost as dry as a red pepper.
The first thing that caught the attention of the journalists was the size of the skull in relation to the body. The fingers -located on what appear to be the hands - seem to have quite long fingernails: “They seem to be continuingly growing”, Carreño said. The slanted-shaped eyes, although closed, can easily be seen. They are located on each side of the head.
The body, almost in its entirety, somehow appears to be mummified. In some parts of the extremities, tiny black stains can be seen. The carcass is very light and fragile; it is for that reason that it is kept inside the first-aid box with cotton inside. “We keep it inside the box to avoid causing any damage”, they said.
Nowadays, for the Henriquez Carreño Family is almost normal to have frequent visits from journalists and other people interested in seeing the so-called humanoid-carcass. “A lot of people have come to visit us: Media, psychiatrists, and even people that claim to have special powers”, said Mrs. Luisa Carreño.
None of the members of the family could specify the exact day, nor the reasons to explain why the alleged creature died. However, they all agree that it was alive about eight days ago. “When we found it in Concepcion, it was able to open its eyes. Then a few days later, once we had returned to Santiago, it opened its eyes one more time. After that, it never opened them again. But there was something peculiar about that: When we thought it was already dead, the body was still warm, and it stayed warm for a long time. I always thought that a dead body was supposed to be cold”, said Armando.
But because they were not able to determine whether the alleged creature was still alive or not, the family members waited too long the take it to the veterinarian, a specialist, or the local authorities in order to have it examined. Therefore, it died. “The truth is that we never really thought about it. But even after noticing that its body was still warm, we took it to a local veterinarian so he could give us an opinion. But the veterinarian was puzzled; he told us that this was the strangest thing, and he did not have a clue about what it really was”, said Julio.
In spite of the fact that this story is fairly recent (it broke on Monday, the 21st of October), rumors have already begun to spread in relation to it. Perhaps the most talked about rumor is the story about how the alleged creature made telepathic contact with the children's mother, which is completely false.
“That rumor began when those people that claim to have super powers came to the house. A lady that claimed to be a medium was talking to people on the street about how she was able to communicate with the being using telepathy. When that happened, I did not notice anything out of the ordinary. I doubt that that ever took place”, said Mrs. Luisa.
Another version mentions how “the being” stood up and opened its eyes, which according to family members, it never happened. They assure that although it did slowly open its eyes at one point, it never stood up.
The family pointed out to Terra.cl that the only thing they can do is to wait for an educational institution or local health officials to carry out the necessary tests to determine the origins of the creature. “I am waiting for someone to do a DNA test. Nobody really knows what it is right now. Up until now, they have told me that they are still figuring out where these tests can be done. Unfortunately, when this happens, people tend to forget about the whole thing and it all turns into an inconvenience as time passes by”, said Carrasco.
Many veterinarians have already expressed their interest to study “the being” - as they call it. However, none of them have conducted even a serious lab analysis.
The studies would allow them to determine if it is a fetus, an animal, or just a hoax. Furthermore, the preliminary results would indicate if this was indeed a living being of biological form -something that must be made clear in order to proceed with any further studies. If indeed this was, at one point in time a living being, a more in-depth analysis may determine its origin, whether it is from local wild life, from earth or perhaps even extraterrestrial.
Special thanks to Cristian Riffo, Ovnis Terra.cl, and Jaime Ferrer, Translation from English to Spanish by Mario Andrade.
Source: Terra.CL
Date: October 25, 2002
Veterinarian Arturo Mann:
This is what a monito de monte (mountain monkey) looks like.
A specialist from the University of Santo Tomàs stated that it is a monito de monte, a small mammal that lives in the Valdivian rainforest and hides during the day.
SANTIAGO, October 25: The mysterious creature which caused expectation throughout Chile and which was even reputed to be extraterrestrial in origin turned out to be a mammal known as Monito de Monte (literally, mountain monkey). This was the statement made by veterinarian and professor of the Univ. of Santo Tomas, Arturo Mann, who subjected the specimen to analysis. The specialist, who was one of the few scientists who had access to the specimen found by a family in Concepcion, stated that - based on his knowledge and publications - he can assure with a 90% certainty that the species is terrestrial in origin.
“After a preliminary analysis and without seeing it in “macro” fashion, I have concluded that it is earthly. In other words, a little animal, a mammal that presents hair, nails, fingers. It is earthly and even terrestrial, which is to say, it's not a flying animal. It shows appendages suited to walking and even for digging, with long nails. The body shows some damage, possibly from animal predation or poor care [in the handling] of this little animal.”
Terra.Cl: What is it, then?
“It is a small mammal, known as a micromammal, specifically a marsupial and given the region it was found, would correspond with a high degree of certainty to a 'monito del monte'. To reach the conclusion that it is this “monito” or a marsupial, we are mainly based in the fact that the anterior members present five fingers with an opposable thumb. This means that the animal can grip branches using its hand. That's why it's called 'monito' (little monkey).”
Terra.Cl: It is commonly found in the southern area of the country?
“Not very commonly. It's a hard animal to find. Possibly these people came across a moribund animal.”
Terra.Cl: In this case, can we speak of a foetus or a newborn?
“It's a newborn, possibly weakened. Bear in mind that marsupials in Chile hibernate during the winter. By not having any food, they go to sleep in April or May, and in late August and September, they emerge in a lethargic, weakened state to find food. This makes them more vulnerable to attacks by other animals or to die from climatic conditions.”
Translation © 2002 Institute of Hispanic Ufology. Special thanks to Liliana Nunez.
It seems obvious that Arturo Mann has solved the mystery:
Monito del Monte:
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One of the independent references that convinced me (Kirsch and Calaby, 1977):
“The single living genus and species, Dromiciops australis, occurs only from the vicinity of Concepciòn south to Chiloe Island in south-central Chile and east to slightly beyond the Argentine border in the mountains. This genus often has been placed in the family Didelphidae, but available evidence now indicates that it is distinct from that group and is more appropriately referred to the Microbiotheriidae, an otherwise extinct family of New World marsupials (Kirsch and Calaby 1977).”
This marsupial is rare; but it is precisely in the Concepcion region that it is the less rare.
