Stuff of nightmares

I was 10 in 1968 when the film 2001: A Space Odyssey released, and despite not understanding any of famously unintelligible closing sequence (you youngsters check internet: people are still trying to explain it over 50 years later!) entirely captivated by opening images depicting our early ancestors’ struggle for existence. Our future hung a thread parched desert where forbearers were prey leopards, pool water an asset defend, there nothing eat but few dry twigs shared with tapirs (Figure 1). Tapirs? South American lowland (Tapirus terrestris) be exact – somehow well-fed this sparsely vegetated, cinematic corner prehistoric Africa! But willingly forgave director Stanley Kubrick, understood that, scene, “ancient-looking beast” more important than paleo-wildlife accuracy, he had me wide-eyed slack-jawed his depiction nightmarish life before knowledge (https://bit.ly/3xdR00E). If only those ancient hominins known that could have driven their nightmares away. E Kilby (CC BY-SA 2.0) I’ll get first, caveats. Far from dispelling bad dreams, can also bring them. In 1930 book Bring ‘Em Back Alive (New York, NY: Simon & Schuster), Frank Buck, animal collector zoos eventual star films recounting own adventures, describes what been fatal attack Malayan tapir indicus). After capturing creature wooden enclosure, Buck noticed badly scraped skin off its back while escape. Later, safer pen, approached thought “probably least dangerous all…in jungle” handful ointment. slapped on, 600-pound captive butted him floor, then spent some considerable time trampling bite face off. His assistants eventually heard cries help managed desist, couldn’t up three days. And that’s scariest example. 2005, paper entitled caused southeastern Brazil appeared journal Wilderness Environmental Medicine (16: 97–100). “A 55-year-old man attacked Brazilian [lowland] after surprising stabbing corn plantation” reads abstract. “The victim received deep bites thighs, neck, cervical areas, resulting severe hemorrhage death. This is first report incident death.” well one 1998 young calf severed arm her keeper Oklahoma City Zoo; or another 2006 Baird’s bairdii) broke rib Costa Rica’s Minister Environment during trip Corcovado National Park; yet 2013 two-year-old girl severely injured at Dublin Zoo, unfathomable reason child mother taken inside enclosure female lived new baby. The attacked, wounding little injuring (see Scientific American; https://bit.ly/3d5qr6Y). removal nightmares. That, clever Japanese will tell you, achieved asking “Baku” Baku name originally Chinese mythical chimera power devour disturbing who, Edo Period (starting 1603 CE), established ability folklore. He odd-looking spirit, apparently made bits left all other creatures created. Those include elephant’s head small trunk cow’s ears, although scholars suggest otherwise, does sound rather like tapir? Indeed, Japanese, word baku means tapir, gone written on headboards keep dreams Even now, children may picture beds, share sleeping quarters soft, cuddly, toy charged same task. if doesn’t work, they need do ask (some say times) take away fear suffered. exactly does, gobbling (apparently chestnuts). Kubrick’s film, human intelligence stimulated ancestors touches monolith sent across galaxy alien race. With disappointing predictability, however, ancestor’s used make weapon nightmare rival clan. Although largely untreated act fashions recurring sleeplessness us threat annihilatory war perhaps because thing envisions killing tapir. Adrian Burton