2 Reviews:

Review: Monsterquest 11-05-08

This was a rather interesting episode, focusing on Real Dragons, with Aussie Cryptozologist Rex Gilroy, along with Tony Gerard and Gary Opit, an American and Australian reptile expert. They are searching in the Blue Mountains of Oz for Megalania, a giant version of the Monitor Lizard said to measure at least 30 feet long, much bigger than an average Monitor Lizard (this is supposed to have gone extinct 40,000 years ago, but may be still living in the mountains of Oz). Gilroy has apparently cast tracks of what appear to be large reptiles, possible Megalania. He is having one of the tracks analyzed by a paleontologist. Opit theorizes that the Megalania would be an ambush animal, sitting by a trail to await its next meal, which in Oz can be Kangaroos or Wallabies. The legends of dragons are very prevalent, but are only legends, not realistic. Historian Peter Hancock is also profiled to discuss the possible continuing existence of Megalania, according to the Aborigines. The large reptiles are called Goanna (Big Lizard), and the team puts up camera traps in areas where sightings have occurred and also tracks have been found. They do put up bait in front of the camera traps. Tony finds a sign of possible Goanna activity-a termite mound, which are said to be used as nests for the Goanna. A process called Parthenogenesis, which means producing offspring without a mate, is discussed (female Komodo Dragons are able to reproduce without a mate). The area in Australia where this all takes place is the Wollemi National Forest. There are other possible areas in Indonesia where these large creatures can survive and thrive. Five of those islands are known to have Komodo Dragon populations. Trooper Walsh, a retired Wildlife Biologist at the Smithsonian National Zoo, is interviewed about his impressions of the Komodo, and discusses the possible ancestry between Megalania and the average Komodo. Komodos will basically attack anything, even themselves, and human beings. In 2007 in Komodo Village, a young boy is attacked by a Komodo, and the boy's uncle rushes to his aid. He threw rocks at the reptile, which chased it off. The boy, unfortunately, died before he got proper medical attention. A Swiss diver is killed by a Komodo Dragon earlier this year. This occurred on the island of Rinca. Two researchers go to the island to explore for a giant Komodo. Next week is the Season Finale, Sasquatch Attack II, 9:00 EST/8:00 Central on History. Check Local listings for time and channel.

Review: Monsterquest 11-12-08

This was a 4 1/2 star episode out of 5. Some highlights:

The Monsterquest crew returns to Snelgrove Lake to investigate the attacks on a remote cabin. Doug Hajicek and Jeff Meldrum are part of the crew. The Sasquatch is 7-10 feet tall, the size of a Kodiak bear, with 17-Inch feet and long arms. There is a short recap of the initial episode from last year. The first segment seems to be recapping the previous Sasquatch Attack episode, leaving the viewer wishing they would get to the new material. Apparently further DNA samples from the last trip to Snelgrove were sent to another lab. Dr. Gregory Bambenek is also along to investigate, as is Dr. Esteban Sarmiento. Doug Hajicek's son Blaine is also along, as they set up a camera system-infrared, camera traps and cameras inside the cabin. They also set up a blind to make observations and use camera systems. The infrared cameras are installed on the eaves of the cabin so as to not alert an animal to their presence. The blind is set up inside the cabin. The attacks apparently continued into 2007 on the cabin. Dave Regel was a member of the fishing party staying at the cabin, and they were the target of things being thrown against the cabin. Apparently, a hair was found on Regel's rod case, and it has been sent for analysis. Microscopist Jason Beckert is commissioned to examine and identify the hair. The first night at the cabin reveals nothing. Bambenek has put out radio transmitters contained in between pheromone chips. Sarmiento determines that there is a good deal of food sources in the surrounding area of the cabin. One technique being utilized is gorilla scent. More extensive DNA testing is being done on the Snelgrove Lake samples. A molecular biologist is doing the examination, and says even DNA a century old can be examined and amplified.The Dr. is using a different technique than that used by Dr. Curt Nelson. A local bush pilot brings news of a sighting nearby to the cabin, 115 miles away. The creature may be following a blueberry supply. The WIlliam Roe story is recreated very well by the MQ team. After 8 days, the float plane pilot gives the team information about the sighting at the location 115 miles away at Grassy Narrows. The team decides to move there. The hair collected at Snelgrove is being examined by Dr. Beckert at Microtrace, while the team at the cabin heads to Grassy Narrows to interview the witness (the place is an Ojibwa reservation). Helen Pahpasay and her mother see a large black hairy creature walking down the road, 8 feet tall, close to a blueberry patch. Helens mother refuses to ever return to that area. Randy Fobister, Helen's brother, examines the area and finds where sticks are broken off. Footprints were also found in the area, but the cast shows six toes, which Meldrum believes may have been made by a bear. However, after examining a bear paw print compared to the print, it is difficult for Meldrum to determine if the print is of a bear or of something else. There appears to be a flattened area made by a large animal of some sort, but no determination as to what made it. The hair found at the cabin is deternined to be a human head hair, bleached,
and the DNA samples are determined to be fungi and bacteria, with no animal or primate DNA. It could also mean the sample is too degraded to amplify DNA positively.