Monsters and Myths

FELTON, Calif.,- Deep in the heart of the Santa Cruz Mountains exists a place where a legend  lives.

In parts of the world it is known as the Yeti, in others it’s Sasquatch, but just about everyone at some point or another has heard of Big Foot.

The question is, does Big Foot really exist in the Santa Cruz Mountains?

Perhaps one location that you can find the answers ist the Big Foot Discovery Project Museum located in Felton. Operator Michael Rug has devoted the past 50 years in researching the elusive creature. After having experienced a sighting as a child he says they can and do exist.

“We’ve had about four dozen reports come in, and I’m quite confident that some of those are bogus. Some people are seeing black bears and mistaking them for big foot, some people are not seeing anything at all, it’s there imagination getting carried away, and we’ve even had a few hoaxes pop up. To me that means we have a genuine subset of the big foot phenomenon right here in Santa Cruz,” says Rug.

When asked what he thinks of people who do not believe there is anything strange living the Santa Cruz Mountains, he says: “I say to people, try to put yourself in my shoes. You see something, it registers in your brain with your two eyes, and it says there is a large bi-pedal primate walking through the woods.”

Source: kcba

The search for the Yeti or Bigfoot of Shoria Mountain in Russia is set to continue as the snows melt and the weather warms in Siberia. The expedition will commence in June 2009 and will be headed by Valery Kimiev and Professor Nikolai Skalon, the head of the department of Zoology at the Kemerovo State University. Local’s are still alleging they have seen the bigfoot type creature in the area surrounding the Azass Caves on many occasions. One local will be joining the expedition, Hunter Michael Kiskarov who claims to have seen a Yeti more than once.

The local head of government  Vladimir Tashtagol has received 14 written reports by residents of remote villages around the area of the Azass caves and the nearby Mrassu river claiming to have seen these creatures in recent years. The Cryptids are described as being two meters tall, with reddish black hair that resembles that of a brown bear.

The Azass cave is several kilometres deep and it is believed the Yeti or Yeti’s dwell deep in its interior. Some believe that the creature is a lone neanderthal survivor or the sightings have been of one of a number the species, part of a small colony that represents the world’s last Neanderthals.

Source: allnewsweb

More evidence of the abominable snowman (more politely known as a Yeti or Bigfoot) has been uncovered in Russia’s Kemerovo Region in southwestern Siberia, the Moscow newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda reports.

Vladimir Makut, a local administrator in the Tashtagol district of Kemerovo Region, noted in an interview with the newspaper that sightings of unusual large creatures in the area date far back into Soviet times, when the area contained several prison colonies. The creatures inspired such dread that the prisoners sometimes refused to go out to work. The local native people, the Shors, also have numerous legends about wild “dark people.” Specialists note, however, that, historically, more yeti activity has been recorded in neighboring regions. The Soviet Academy of Sciences even set up a commission to investigate those reports in 1958. It concluded that Altai, which Tashtagol borders on, is a breeding ground for the creature. There the yetis have been sighted in pairs and yeti children have been seen.

Dozens of sightings near Azas Cave have been recorded, all during the winter months. The area is accessible only with local guides and the right equipment, but it is visited by campers and personnel from the coal mining industry. The latest series of reports began last November. Igor Burtsev, director of the International Center for Hominology, noted that the situation is unusual in that reports have come from locals. Local inhabitants rarely report such sightings, even when they are aware of the presence of the mysterious creatures. There were no actually encounters with the yetis, but numerous tracks were found. They were described as similar to bear tracks, but with distinct toes.

Makut organized an expedition to the cave and, after finding tracks himself, called in Burtsev and several regional officials. They also confirmed the presence of footprints in the cave, but declined to enter the cave farther than 30 yards, noting the dangerous conditions. The yetis themselves eluded the explorers.

Komsomolskaya Pravda noted that there have been other recent developments in hominology. Last month, a film crew from Russia’s Channel One television discovered enormous hominid footprints in Abkhazia and interviewed a local resident who stated that she was the granddaughter of a domesticated yeti. According to the woman, Raisa Sabekia, her grandmother, named Zana, was captured by hunters and given as a gift to her grandfather, who was a local nobleman. He eventually taught her to speak. Abkhazia is another region known for the presence of yeti. An Academy of Sciences expedition searched for the creature in that region in Soviet times as well.

Source: mosnews

Two backpackers on a year long trip around Australia got the fright of their life last week while they were out trekking in bushland in the vicinity of the township of Leura, not far from the well known Katoomba landmark, ‘The Three Sisters’.

It was early evening and by the two ladies admission a bit late to be by themselves in the bush. Ingrid Schön 23, of Germany and Adi Hassan, 22 of France decided to head back into town when they heard the breaking of branches and loud footsteps heading towards them. Ingrid shone a torch onto the track in front of them.

At this point they both claim to have seen what they now describe as Bigfoot charge away into the distance.

‘Admittedly we did not get a close look but we think what we saw looked like the American Bigfoot, basically covered in fur and about two meters tall. It definitely had no clothes on and was not human.’ Ingrid told All News Web reporter Jadyn Cassidy. ‘We were petrified and almost lost our way back in our nervous state’ Ingrid commented.

The Blue Mountains is believed to be the home of a creature known as the Yowie, basically Australia’s version of Bigfoot or the Yeti. There have been many recent sightings.  Prior to the arrival of Europeans local Aboriginal tribes were certain of its existence. Aboriginal communities still living in the Blue Mountains along with some other locals continue to believe the Yowie might be out there in the vast expanses of Australia’s Great Dividing Range.

Brian Vike believes he has photographic evidence that sasquatches exist.

No, he doesn’t have a photo of a sasquatch, but he does have a photo of a very large footprint.

The Houston, B.C.-based UFO researcher has developed a soft spot for the mythical furry creatures, and got an excited call last Sunday from the remote community of Moricetown.

“I made the 90-minute drive up there, and I was amazed at what I saw,” Vike told The Province. “I’ve been on some of those turkey runs, when there’s nothing to see.

“But there were footprints, 17-and-a-half inches in length, that went on for a long ways.

“The stride is three feet six inches from the front of the foot to the back of the heel.”

More tellingly for Vike, the snow around the prints was untouched.

“There were no tracks around to show that somebody was trying to pull a gag.”

Vike, who tracks UFO sightings, got even more excited when he found blood in one of the prints.

“I’m sending it off for testing in Saskatchewan and Ohio. We also have a hair sample.”

Sasquatches are allegedly ape-like beings that apparently are quite shy, since they don’t seem to interact with humans much.

Like the yeti and the ogopogo, sightings are frequently reported, but no conclusive proof of their existence has ever been found.

On the other hand, conclusive proof that they do not exist does not exist

theprovince.com/Technology/snaps+pictures+sasquatch+footprints+northern/1378636/story.html

IN SEARCH for the most elusive creature on earth, popularly known as Mande Burung in Garo Hills, History Channel came down all the way from USA to film a documentary on the series ‘Monster Quest’. This is for the first time that History Channel has filmed such a story in India.

The writer-producer, Bill William Prouty, renowned Primatologist, Esteban Sarmiento led the team along with cameraperson Aaron Acktenberg and Eli Ljung. Sarmiento have spent years researching the Bigfoot of North America and studied apes and primates of Africa.

The team visited Chokpot, Silkigre, Siju, Rongsu and Rongrigittim villages and interviewed eyewitnesses and villagers, who had encountered the monster giant. They also visited Nokrek National Park, and other adjoining areas where the Mande Burung is believed to have sighted.

Sarmiento, the accompanying Primatologist, examined the eyewitness reports, collected evidences and animal movements from the deep dark forests of Garo Hills.

The camera crew was fully equipped with various types of cameras and electronic gadgets including solar powered motion activated cameras, GPRS based digital still camera, GPS - global positioning system, high definition professional broadcast cameras, animal scent baits, electronic animal baits, etc.

Eminent personalities from Garo Hills and experts on issues related to Garo Hills Dr Milton M. Sangma, Llewellyn R. Marak and others were interviewed. “We are happy with the scenic beauty of Garo Hills, and the hospitality and friendliness of the Garo people,” said the producer Bill William Prouty, satisfied with the shoot.

The Centaur Adventure Team accompanied the History Channel for the filming. Dipu Marak, a Mande Burung enthusiast said, “We have provide the channel with all the video tapes of the earlier sighting, photographs, bone samples, few strands of suspected hair sample and blood sample for DNA testing and identifications.”

merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=15720349

It seems so long ago that a couple of chancers from the state of Georgia declared that they had found Bigfoot. And it seems almost as long ago that it was discovered that they had merely purloined a gorilla suit and stuck it in a freezer.

However, one of the most renowned naturalists in the world, Sir David Attenborough, said this weekend that he still believes it might be out there.

Appearing with British talk show host Jonathan Ross, Sir David, the man whose whispering voice has never disturbed even the most skittish bird, said, “I’m baffled by the Abominable Snowman–very convincing footprints have been found at 19,000 feet. No-one does that for a joke.”

I find myself on my knees and differing. Perhaps people might not do it only for a joke, but, as the Georgian scoundrels, Messrs. Dyer and Whitton, proved, you might be suppressing a giggle as you’re reaching for a large wad of paper money.

However, if Sir David believes that it’s out there, someone should really grab a few of the brightest and most underemployed enthusiasts around, and hike the Himalayas until they find the hairy beast.

Perhaps we could have a reality show in which two sets of teams are given a seemingly impossible task, and the first to achieve its goal wins $5 million and a mortgage.

I have a name for it: “Bin Laden or Bigfoot?” I think that I’ll call Fox right now and pitch it.

news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-10184835-71.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20

Sir David Attenborough believes there is ‘very convincing’ evidence that yetis exist.

Speaking on Friday Night With Jonathan Ross, the revered wildlife expert said: ‘I’m baffled by the Abominable Snowman - very convincing footprints have been found at 19,000ft.

‘No-one does that for a joke. I think it’s unanswered.’

The yeti is an ape-like creature said to inhabit the Himalayan region of Nepal and Tibet.

A photograph of a mysterious footprint, rumoured to be that of the yeti was taken in the Menlung Basin in the Himalayas in 1951.

A team of mountaineers travelled to the region on a reconnaissance mission before attempting to conquer Everest for the first time, a feat achieved two years later.

Eric Shipton recorded the footprint, and Tom Bourdillon, passing on the evidence to his friend Michael Davies, wrote: ‘Dear Mick, Here are the footprint photos: sorry for the delay. We came across them on a high pass on the Nepal-Tibet watershed during the 1951 Everest expedition.

‘They seemed to have come over a secondary pass at about 19,500 ft, down to 19,000 ft where we first saw them, and then went on down the glacier.’

In 1954, the Daily Mail reported the discovery of hair specimens from what was said to be the scalp of a yeti.

Professor Frederick Woods Jones, an expert in human and comparative anatomy, failed to reach a conclusion, but said the dark brown hair was not from a bear or an anthropoid (manlike) ape.

Alleged sightings and debate has continued through the decades - but so far no-one has been able to produce a clear, definitive photograph of the world’s most elusive being.

Tibetan folklore has it that the yeti is nocturnal, whistles, and can kill with a single punch.

Investigators believe that at least two types of yeti exist: the dzu-teh (’big thing’), which is 7ft-8ft tall, and the nich-teh, which is 5ft-6ft.

Sir David also spoke about not being able to halt climate change.

He said: ‘We can never go back, there’s no doubt about that… it’s the speed at which we’re changing.

‘Before, it was thousands of years and now it’s decades… but we can slow down the rate at which we change.’

dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1157965/Yeti-evidence-convincing-says-wildlife-expert-Sir-David-Attenborough.html

Kemerovo (Russia), Feb 19: A group of people led by the Russian Orthodox Bishop of Kemerovo and a regional official set out Thursday in search of a bigfoot sighted by hunters in Tashtagol area in Russia, a regional spokesman said.

Earlier this week, the Kemerovo regional administration released a report that local hunters had spotted “some hairy humanoid creatures with a height of 1.5-2 metres near the Azass Cave on Mount Shoriya. The report was illustrated with a photograph from inside the cave showing the track of an unidentified creature.

“From the nearest village of Ust-Kabyrz, the bishop, regional head and a group of others will reach the Azass Cave by the only transportation possible: snowmobiles,” the spokesman told RIA Novosti.

According to the head of the department of anthropology at the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology in Moscow, anthropologists have never seen or studied the body of a bigfoot or yeti, although there are numerous reports of their sightings throughout the world.

He also noted that yetis for some reason are always spotted singularly, which is “biological nonsense”, as a large population must exist in order to create generation after generation. According to the anthropologist, Earth has been studied so thoroughly that if a population of yeti existed it would have been confirmed.

The Kemerovo regional spokesman said a scientific expedition is being organized for the summer to investigate the sighting. The financial details of the expedition are being worked out and there are already many enthusiasts, businessmen and hunters ready to help.

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