Gerald Russell, though born in the United States, attended Cambridge University in England where he became lifelong friends with schoolmate, and future cryptozoologist, Ivan T. Sanderson. In 1932 Russell joined Sanderson on the Percy Sladen expedition to Africa; it was on this expedition, while in the high forests of the British Cameroons, at Mainyu River near the Mamfe Pool, the two reportedly encountered a large unclassified animal known to modern cryptozoologists as Mokele-mbembe. Two months later, while in the Assumbo Mountains, the two also reportedly witnessed the over flight of a giant bat like creature, known as the Kongamato.
Shortly after his return from Africa Russell was selected to participate in the 1933 William Harvest Harkness Asiatic Expedition to Tibet in pursuit of the giant panda and although this expedition proved unsuccessful he was able to return in 1936 as a member of the Ruth Harkness Asiatic Expedition to Tibet, this time assisting in capturing the first giant panda. After World War II, during which Russell served as an American volunteer in the service of the British Royal Navy, he journeyed to China to find and capture a rare, little known animal, the golden takin, but was forced to abandon his efforts because of advances by Chinese Communist armies.
In 1954 the planners of the Daily Mail’s expedition to Nepal in search of the Yeti selected Russell as one of its leaders. His team collected numerous sightings and even some droppings of the smallest type of Yeti, The-lma, thought to live in the mountain forests of Nepal. In 1958 Russell was selected to lead the Slick-Johnson Snowman Expedition to Nepal, during which he claimed to have actually seen one of the The-lma in the upper Arun Valley of Nepal. Sadly, serious health problems forced Gerald Russell to leave the Slick-Johnson Snowman Expedition before its completion.
Quick Info: (where applicable)
Date of Birth: 1911
Birthplace: New York, United States of America
Current Location: NA
Books: NA
Schooling and/or Degrees:
• Cambridge University
Organizations: NA
Website: NA
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