elusiveworld

The Almas, Mongolian for “wild man,” is a purported homonid cryptozoological species reputed to inhabit the Caucasus and Pamir Mountains of central Asia, and the Altai Mountains of southern Mongolia. The creature is not currently recognized or cataloged by science. Furthermore, scientists generally reject the possibility that such mega-fauna cryptids exist, because of the improbably large numbers necessary to maintain a breeding population and because climate and food supply issues make their survival in reported habitats unlikely.

Almas is a singular word in Mongolian. Variants of the word, including ‘almasty’, occur in several Central Asian and Caucasian languages.  As is typical of the legendary hominids throughout Central Asia, Russia and the Caucasus, the Almas is generally considered to be more akin to “wild people” in appearance and habits than to apes (in contrast to the Yeti of the Himalayas).

Almases are typically described as human-like bipedal animals, between five and six and a half feet tall, their bodies covered with reddish-brown hair, with anthropomorphic facial features including a pronounced browridge, flat nose, and a weak chin. Many cryptozoologist researchers believe there is a similarity between these descriptions and modern reconstructions of how Neandethals might have appeared.

Speculation that Almases may be something other than legendary creatures is based on purported eyewitness accounts, alleged footprint finds, and interpretations of long-standing native traditions, which have been anthropologically collected.

My research in the forests of Khovsgul, Northern Mongolia was less a scientific study, rather an adventure to  generate material for a fictional work based on the experiential evidence collected from local tribesman and lay people. Whether the Almas is real or not is up to the reader to decide. I like to think that the Almas will remain a myth. If all we read see and believe is rationalised by the framework of science then somehow, I feel, the magic of life experience is lost. This is my opinion and therefore the work I produce should not be seen as fact or fiction. As the yeti and other folk tales exist to conjure images in the minds of children, so I hope these images and stories may do the same.

The Almas is out there, believe it or not, he rides on an idea horse..