Kungkang that we know as animals with slow motion and funny-looking this turned out to have a size extraordinary large body in ancient times. In fact, this giant loris exceeds the height of the early humans of the time.
Unfortunately, the giant kungkang was extinct thousands of years ago. Why, researchers still hypothesize.
Some say if the kungkang is extinct due to climate change. However, others say if the disappearance of this creature is the result of human hunting.
The researchers found clues to the final hypothesis. They get evidence if the animal is searched and hunted by early humans 11,000 years ago.
The evidence in question is the footprints at the New Mexico White Sand Monument. The footprints were discovered in April 2017.
There are two distinct traces left there, giant kungkang and humans. Interestingly, human footprints are not only found around the kungkang, but also inside the giant kungkang footprint.
"Human footprints have the same trajectory as the kungkang, suggesting that early humans walked deliberately on the path of the kungkang," said Matthew Bennett, geomorphologist from Bournemouth University UK.
"These footsteps require a person to adjust his normal steps to accommodate the bigger steps of the kungkang," he explained.
This shows that wherever the kungkang go, the ancient people follow.
Not only that, early humans also stalked this giant kungkang to hunt them down. Unfortunately, researchers are not sure whether kungkang are hunted for feathers or consumed.
Therefore, researchers also have not been able to conclude whether these hunters managed to kill the kungkang or not.
Because based on the analysis of footprints and marks left behind, researchers estimate the size of the kungkang if standing will reach 2.1 meters. Kungkang also has sharp crescent sharp claws.
The researchers argue that maybe this is not a hunt but a chase or a fun game.
"(Will) be very difficult to overcome (slow loris)," said Bennett on The Atlantic, Wednesday (25/04/2018).
"It seems impossible, and at that time kungkang is a frightening animal, they are also a formidable prey for having claws like Wolverine and strong hands that provide a deadly reach if met in close proximity," Bennett said.
The analysis of footprints found also shows the presence of kungkang resistance when encountering humans.
This is shown by a sharp change of direction when the kungkang tries to escape from violent treatment or even man-made killing. The printed imprint is circular, where the animal may stop in their last position.
"The trail of circular kungkang is consistent with the defensive behavior in which the kungkang lifted their hind legs, then allowed the front legs to defend," Bennett added.
ln spite of all this, the 10 footprints printed on the salt sediments are evidence of an interaction between early humans and the first discovered kungkang.
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