Isn't it arrogant of us to assume we know of all the species on our planet? 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?

From Northern California to the dense forests of British Columbia, the legends of Sasquatch have been handed down over hundreds of years, a Northwest version of the fearsome fable - from the Grendel of Beowulf to the Abominable Snowman of the Himalayas - that is as old as the forest and the night. Now, years after much of the forest has given way to suburbs, the Sasquatch is in resurgence all over the Northwest, a cultural phenomenon that is at least as remarkable as any scientific evidence uncovered in the DNA labs. Mainstream scientists have scoffed at reports of a man-ape lurking in the forests of the Northwest, something akin to the great apes that dwelt in East Asia approximately half a million years ago. Not only is it unlikely that one wouldn’t have been seen and clearly photographed by now, but it would be difficult for so large an animal to find adequate food in the wild lands that remain, they say.

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.

There is evidence to support the existence of just such a creature in the Northwestern United States as well as other remote areas.

Footprints
The footprints left by the creatures are, on average, considerably larger than that of a human. On the most part, the creatures have been shy and reclusive. They normally try to avoid contact with humans. Every now and then there are reports of sightings in populated areas. Perhaps the creatures are just as curious about us as we are about them.

Bigfoot’s food
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

Dangerous Bigfoot encounters
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, when one trapper was found dead by his friend with broken neck and four fang marks in his throat, and Bigfoot’s footprints all around.

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. But these kinds of attacks are rare. Most encounters are very brief and non-violent.

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

Tag: Bigfoot - Gigantopithecus Blacki