Richard Dawkins , the world's most famous atheist , writes
that if we consider the link between man and other great apes ie the
Man-Chimp ancestor as 1 , and the the Man-Chimp-Gorrilla ancestor as 2
etc. then it only needs 40 such ancestors to get back to the primitive
ameba , the ancestor of us all .

'New' giant ape found in DR Congo


The new ape has some gorilla characteristics
Scientists believe they have discovered a new group of giant apes in
the jungles of central Africa.
The animals, with characteristics of both gorillas and chimpanzees,
have been sighted in the north of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to local villagers, the apes are ferocious, and even capable
of killing lions.

The UK magazine New Scientist is to publish its report about the
mysterious creatures next week.

If they are a new species of primate, it could be one of the most
important wildlife discoveries in decades.

The discovery of these apes "reveals just how much we still have to
learn about our closest living relatives," New Scientist says.

'NEW' GIANT APE
Large, black faces (like gorillas)
Up to two metres tall (6.5ft)
Weigh 85kg-102kg (187lb-224lb)
Males make nests on the ground (like gorillas)
Diet rich in fruit (like chimps)  

They stand up to two metres tall, the size of gorillas, and like
gorillas, they nest on the ground, not in trees.

But they live hundreds of kilometres away from any other known gorilla
populations, and their diet is closer to that of chimpanzees.

Primatologist Shelly Williams is thought to be the only scientist to
have seen the apes.

During her visit to DR Congo two years ago, she says captured them on
video and located their nests.

She describes her encounter with them: "Four suddenly came rushing out
of the bush towards me," she told New Scientist.

"If this had been a bluff charge, they would have been screaming to
intimidate us. These guys were quiet. And they were huge. They were
coming in for the kill. I was directly in front of them, and as soon
as they saw my face, they stopped and disappeared."

Mystery

The discovery has baffled scientists.

There are three controversial possibilities to explain the origin of
the mystery apes:

They are a new species of ape

They are giant chimpanzees, much larger than any so far recorded, but
behave like gorillas

They could be hybrids, the product of gorillas mating with
chimpanzees.

So far, researchers have little to go on, but they now plan to return
to northern DR Congo to study the apes further.

In the meantime, there are fears that unless measures are taken to
protect them, poaching could threaten this new group of primates
before the mystery of their identity is resolved.

"This is a lawless area," says Kenyan-based Swiss photographer Karl
Ammann, who tipped Ms Williams off about the apes.

"The government has practically no control over hunting. If we found
something interesting it would attract more investment. People would
be more interested in conserving it."