The River Monster, or
The Curse of the Sao La

In 1992, Dr. John MacKinnon discovered the first new species of large mammal in over 50 years: the Pseudoryx, known to the local hunters as the sao la. Identified only from bones, skin, and footprints, MacKinnon had not actually seen the goat-like animal.

The hunt for capturing a live pseudoryx, either in the flesh or on film, was on!
This is the story of one doomed party in search of the Sao la.

an ominous view of the river

The story begins with 1. The Arrival

This story is best accompanied by the CD The Best of Ennio Morricone:

The Best of Ennio Morricone - front of album The Best of Ennio Morricone - back of album

For more information on the pseudoryx (Sao la), here are two useful sources:

http://coombs.anu.edu.au/~vern/species.html - complete with pictures!
Wise, Jeff. "If a Sao La Is Seen in the Forest, but not by Scientists, Does It Exist?" The New York Times, June 19, 1994.

Click on the links below to read the story

Introduction - 1. The Arrival - 2. The River - 3. The Monster - 4. The Bridge - 5. The Palace

This story was created by Heather Cleary for the UCLA class, IS287a.
Photographs are courtesy of Howard Besser.