Monkey Man of Bukit Timah
The Bukit Timah Monkey Man, or BTM, is a legend that has been present in Singapore for quite some time now. It is believed that this creature resides in the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, a region of heavy forestation in the middle of Singapore. These narratives have however been passed down through generations and people have developed a combination of fear, curiosity and excitement about the place among the locals as well as tourists.
The Monkey Man of Bukit Timah is said to have the form of a human, but with features of a monkey. It is said to be about 1. It is approximately 5 meters tall (or 5 feet) with grayish hair, and long arms. On the face it is claimed to have a monkey like face but on the body it has a human like figure. The BTM is said to be like other legendary animals that are believed to exist such as the Bigfoot in North America or the Abominable Snowman in the Himalayas.
Origins of the Legend
The first sighting of the so called Bukit Timah Monkey Man was reported from the early part of the nineteenth century when Singapore was still under British colonialism. Employees and visitors to the Bukit Timah forest said that they had seen a strange creature in the forest. Such tales were considered as mere myths or probably the figment of someone’s imagination. Despite this, there were other reports of the creature being sighted over the years and some people were certain they had come across it.
Sightings and Encounters
Over the years, there have been many stories of people coming across what they believe is the Monkey Man of Bukit Timah, some claim to have seen it while trekking in the forest and others, have heard some strange sounds at night which they are convinced are from the Monkey Man. A typical aspect expressed in these stories is the feeling of being accompanied by someone or something when walking in the thickly grown forest.
The reported sightings stepped up in the 1960s and this made people to be more interested in the story again. Some went to the extent of attempting to arrange for explorations to locate the BTM but any hard evidence was never produced. This has made many people to think that the Bukit Timah Monkey Man is just a myth because there is no physical evidence to support the existence of the creature.
Possible Explanations
Many theories have been advanced as to what this Monkey Man of Bukit Timah might be. Others believe that it is a new primate that has not been discovered by scientists yet. Some believe that it could be one of the species of monkey that behaves differently hence giving the impression of the half human-half monkey.
Critics claim that the sightings are cases of people mistaking other animals such as macaque or gibbon for big cats since these animals are naturally found in Bukit Timah. It is their contention that the dense forest with all the shadowy and noisy surroundings could easily give people a wrong perception especially at night.
Cultural Impact
However, the story of the Monkey Man of Bukit Timah is still an interesting topic in the folklore of Singapore. This species is not rare and it can be observed in local newspapers, books and even in the guided tours of the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. The myth that is associated with the BTM enhances the appeal to the natural and historical importance of the site.
Conclusion
Bukit Timah Monkey Man is one of the interesting legends of Singapore that was ever heard. Whether it is real or not, at least it creates a form of magic in the minds of people who are told the stories. The thick and eerie forest of Bukit Timah remains a place where the fact and the fiction intermingled and the legend of the Monkey Man is left for people of the future generations to ponder and discover.
