Dateline: 24 March 2004.

We are happy to be able to announce our second expedition to Sumatra leaves the UK on 1st May. Once again, the team will be led by Dr Chris Clark and will comprise of Richard Freeman - the Zoologica Director of the Centre for Fortean Zoology - and journalist Jon Hare. The first objective of the expedition is to explore an area of the Sumatran rainforest that has become known as "The Lost Valley". Veteran Orang-Pendek Expert Debbie Martyr herself has said that "No-one knows what is going on down there". Right in the middle of Kerinci national park, in an area rich with Orang-Pendek sightings, this valley has never been visited by Europeans, and may well be one of the last - practically pristine - safe havens for the Orang-Pendek.

The expedition members are meeting up this week to finalise their plans, and we will be making an announcement about other objecives of this expedition shortly.

In the meantime, if you feel like making a donation to the CFZ Sumatra fighting fund, please make your cheques payable to Jonathan Downes. Also, if those anybody who has a spare Katadyn water purifyer that they could lend or give to us we would be very grateful.