ISU Professor Meldrum to head to international conference to consider existence of relict wildmen

POCATELLO – Idaho State University’s Jeff Meldrum, professor of anatomy and anthropology, will chair the program of the first World Conference on Relict Hominoids, held in South Africa May 4-10.

The event will be hosted by New World Expeditions and Zulu Nyala, a world–class wildlife photo safari resort. The conference program will feature nine international scholars, investigators and celebrities, assembled to discuss the possibilities and scientific evidence for the survival of unrecognized man-like species. Registrants will experience daily conference gatherings, as well as first-class dining and wildlife experiences in this exotic setting.

“Continuing fossil hominin discoveries not only add to the bushiness of the human family tree, but also indicate that several of its branches have persisted into the recent past alongside Homo sapiens, perhaps even into the very present,” Meldrum said.

Meldrum, who specializes in the evolution of human walking, is author of “Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science.” He also edits an online refereed journal, The Relict Hominoid Inquiry. He has examined hundreds of footprints attributed to sasquatch and other relict hominoids around the world, and has conducted investigations in the United States, Canada, China and Russia.

The conference will be the first of its kind to consider the scientific context for the possible existence of multiple species of relict hominoids around the world. Meldrum will be joined by primate conservationist Ian Redmond from the United Kingdom, author of “Primates of the World”; paleoanthopologist Ron Clarke from South Africa, discoverer of the most complete fossil hominid skeleton, dubbed “Littlefoot”; Himalayan mountaineering guide Thukten Sherpa from Nepal, executive director of Asian Trekking; primatologist Anna Nekaris, from the United Kingdom, editor of Folia Primatologica; wildlife consultant and ethnobotanist, John Mionczynski from the United States, author of the “Goat Packer”; wildlife biologist John Bindernagel, from Canada, author of “North America’s Great Ape: The Sasquatch”; nature filmmaker Dmitry Pirkulov from Russia; and celebrity adventurer Les Stroud from Canada, creator and host of “Survivorman Bigfoot.”

“The wildman figure is widespeard in human cultures. Is there evidence to suggest that there may be biological species behind these legendary being? This will be a singular opportunity for these renowned scholars and investigators to share and discuss their collective research on this controversial topic – in person with one another, before their academic peers, and the public, who share a keen interest in this intriguing question,” Meldrum said.

In addition, to conference presentations and panel discussions, registrants will have the opportunity to personally meet and discuss with the panelists. They will also enjoy the amenities of the Zulu Nyala’s two lodges located on a 5,000-acre game reserve in the KwaZulu Natal region of South Africa, with ample opportunities for wildlife viewing and photography, as well as witness traditional Zulu dance performances and village setting.

For details and booking information contact Bill Cacciolfi, President – New World Expeditions at 937-213-1888. For conference brochure visit www.isu.edu/rhi/links.shtml