Bigfoot

Is it possible that a reclusive man-like creature inhabits the remote areas of our planet? Why not ? Isn't it arrogant of us to assume we know of all the species on this huge planet? Scientists will tell you that we don't. Only a few years ago, a unknown animal now named the Okapi was discovered. What about creatures we know of , but are thought to be extinct ? The coelacanth was thought to be extinct for 70 million years until they were discovered alive and well in 1938. So is it really that hard to believe that a hair covered, man-like creature could exist on the verge of discovery ? In many remote areas of the world there have been sightings of just such a creature. Known by many names such as Sasquatch, Yeti, Almas and many more. Is this an unknown primate, the "missing link" or some other yet unknown species ? There is evidence to support the existence of just such a creature in the Northwestern United States as well as other remote areas.

The photograph shown here was taken from a still frame of a 16mm film camera. On October20, 1967, two men on horseback, Roger Patterson, who shot the film and Bob Gimlin, a friend, took to the northern Californian woods of Bluff Creek in the hopes of photographing one of these elusive creatures. They were not disappointed. In the late afternoon, Patterson and Gimlin encountered the creature. Patterson's horse reared and knocked him to the ground. He quickly jumped up and ran toward the creature. It responded by simply walking away. Gimlin kept his friend covered with a rifle in case it attacked. It walked into the trees and vanished. The two men decided against following the creature thinking there maybe a confrontation with either it -or more of its kind that could be in the area. After it was filmed, many scientists dissected the footage. Some claim the film was indeed that of an unknown animal. Others claim it was merely a man in an obvious monkey suit.

Over the years, rumors abounded that Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin hoaxed the whole incident. It even went further by saying that a special effects man named John Chambers, who designed the makeup in the Planet of the Apes movies, designed the suit. He has denied any involvement. Movie special effects people claim the film is just a man in a suit. Some scientists still cling to their belief that the film is authentic. Sadly, Roger Patterson died in 1972 of cancer. Did he go to his grave laughing? Or did he firmly believe at the time of his death that he had seen Bigfoot? In March of 1992, Bob Gimlin admitted that he might have been fooled. He gave thought to the possibility that Roger concocted the whole thing and Bob was an unknowing eyewitness to one of the most elaborate hoaxes in the world.

There is plenty of food in the areas the Bigfoot frequents to sustain a large community of these animals. Here is just a general list of what they could survive on:

Plants - there are many wild plants, flowers and roots that are edible such as mushrooms, berries wild onions
Nuts - there are acorns, pine cones and a few other edible nuts
Fish - salmon and trout
Insects - snails, grubbs, grasshoppers are just a few examples
Red Meat - deer, small mammals and rodents.
White Meat - various fowl

Theories on Bigfoot's Identity

There have been numerous names given the bigfoot over the years. 'Bad Idians", 'Mountain Devils', "Omaha Bushman', "Sasquatch", "Yeren" and "Yeti" just to name a few.

A more scientific name shared by some scientists is the Gigantopithecus Blacki, an extinct primate that lived in Asia some 3000,000 years ago and could have found its way to other parts of the world via the land bridge before Asia broke off the mainland.

Dr. Grover Krantz a well known and respected Cyptozoologist, feels the Sasquatch is indeed Gigantopithecus. He has studied all aspects of the creature for many years. He is convinced of its existence and is one of the scientists who has studied the Patterson film footage and is certain it is genuine. In his book, Bigfoot Prints, Krantz shows a jawbone of what he believes a whole skull would have looked like and using it, was able to construct a skull of what he believes a whole skull would look like. There have only been a handful or teeth and jawbones of Gigantopithecus found throughout the world. The first tooth was found by in 1932 by a Dutch paleoanthropologist, G.H.R. Von Koeingswa1d in a Hong Kong apothecary shop. Since that time only a few jawbones and thousands of teeth have been found.

Is it possible this species that walked Asia some 300,000 years ago, did not die out, but survived well into the 20th century? Perhaps. A species of fish, the coelacanth, thought to be extinct for 70,000,000 years turned up in South Africa in 1938. Another fish, completely unknown to the world, was discovered in 1976. It was called the megamouth shark. Other animals thought to be myth have turned up in this century. The okapi, mountain gorilla, and the giant panda. If Bigfoot is indeed Gigantopithecus Blacki, he may one day be rediscovered and the mystery will finally be solved.

Bigfoot's Names

Bigfoot is far from being confined to North America. He is found in almost all parts of the world by many names. Here are just a few of the places he has been seen and his name given by the natives:

North America - Bigfoot, Sasquatch Europe - Kaptar, Biabin-guli, Grendel, Ferla Mohir, Brenin Ilwyd Africa - Ngoloko,Kikomba. Asia - Gin-sung, Yeti, Mirygdy ,Mecheny, Chinese Wildman, Nguoi Rung

Are they dangerous?

This is a very delicate area. Most encounters are just 'being in the right - at the right time' to see a Bigfoot and watch it disappear into the forest. However, there have been a few documented cases where a violent encounter with a Bigfoot has taken place. One of the most famous stories takes place in the mid 1850's. Two hunters were camping in the woods. They were trappers. They made camp and headed upstream. Upon their return, they found their camp ransacked and large footprints could be found, but were ignored at the time. The men repaired their camp and got ready for supper.

Later, one of the men studied the tracks and thought they were bear tracks, a bear walking on hind legs. His partner laughed but agreed that it seemed to be that way. They concluded that no human made those tracks. After dark once the men were sound asleep, one of the was awakened by the sounds of an intruder. He saw a large figure at the entrance of their homemade lean to and he could smell a foul odor. He grabbed his rifle and fired. The thing ran back to the woods. The trappers stayed up for most of the night but there were no further visitations.

They continued setting out traps the next day, but stayed together. When they returned to camp. Again, it had been ransacked. More two legged footprints were found. The men made a large fire and took turns guarding camp. Well into the night the thing came back. They could hear it as it walked around the woods near the camp making strange growling noises but never came near their fire.

The next day the trappers decided to move on due to the events and little results from their hunting. All morning long they stayed together. But had the feeling something was watching them the whole time. They could hear twigs snapping in the woods beside them. One of the men, around noon, offered to finish getting the traps while his companion went back to camp and finish packing.

When the man returned in the late afternoon with the traps, he found a horrifying site. His friend lay dead. His neck was broken and there were four fang marks in the throat. More footprints were at the scene. That was it. The remaining trapper left everything behind except his grit He didn't stop until he got back to civilization.

A 14-year old girl reported another encounter that happened in the Himalayas. The creature there, referred by the natives as a Yeti, viciously attacked the girl for no apparent reason. She was beaten into unconsciousness. Her brother found her soon after, wounded, but alive. Several nearby Yaks lay dead, half eaten. The Yeti's footprints were all around them. No reason whatsoever could be found for the unprovoked attack.

These kinds of attacks are rare. Most encounters are very brief and non- violent. They seem for the most part gentle creatures, if you don't include some instances of animal mutilations contributed to the Bigfoot. No real evidence can support this, though. But then again, it is an animal. Who knows?