The most famous image of a Sasquatch comes from the Patterson-Gimlin film shot in 1967. Many people today think that film has been debunked as a hoax. Not true. For a thorough explanation of the authenticity question, and a debunking of the debunkers, see the excellent Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO) website. As she told NPR, Dr. Jane Goodall believes the creatures exist. If they do, what exactly are we talking about? We're NOT talking about a single creature who roams the globe. We're talking about a population of thousands. And in the case of the creature known as Bigfoot, Sasquatch, Skunk Ape, Swamp Ape, or Skookum here in North America -- we're talking about a large, hairy, bipedal primate, who's likely nocturnal and who roams the North American wilderness. On the surface, the claim appears absurd. Why haven't we killed or captured one? Why haven't we found remains? Good questions. But the next time you're up in a plane, look down at all the land unpopulated by humans. There's a lot. There's even more up in Canada. Bigfoot sightings concentrate in areas where human populations rub against the wild. Evidence of a creature resembling the Bigfoot is abundant in Native American histories. The "hairy man of the woods" is a recurring character in folklore worldwide. His iconic figure strikes a chord in our collective memory. False sightings (of bears, wolves, moose, even backpackers) outnumber the unexplained. But many credible encounters happen. The ultimate answer will only come with DNA and video evidence, or the discovery of a body, living or dead. Here's a recent thermal video shot in North Carolina. It's not definitive by any stretch, but it is intriguing. Best thing about it: the creature was reaching for a Zagnut bar.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
In Search Of . . . 'Squatch
The most famous image of a Sasquatch comes from the Patterson-Gimlin film shot in 1967. Many people today think that film has been debunked as a hoax. Not true. For a thorough explanation of the authenticity question, and a debunking of the debunkers, see the excellent Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO) website. As she told NPR, Dr. Jane Goodall believes the creatures exist. If they do, what exactly are we talking about? We're NOT talking about a single creature who roams the globe. We're talking about a population of thousands. And in the case of the creature known as Bigfoot, Sasquatch, Skunk Ape, Swamp Ape, or Skookum here in North America -- we're talking about a large, hairy, bipedal primate, who's likely nocturnal and who roams the North American wilderness. On the surface, the claim appears absurd. Why haven't we killed or captured one? Why haven't we found remains? Good questions. But the next time you're up in a plane, look down at all the land unpopulated by humans. There's a lot. There's even more up in Canada. Bigfoot sightings concentrate in areas where human populations rub against the wild. Evidence of a creature resembling the Bigfoot is abundant in Native American histories. The "hairy man of the woods" is a recurring character in folklore worldwide. His iconic figure strikes a chord in our collective memory. False sightings (of bears, wolves, moose, even backpackers) outnumber the unexplained. But many credible encounters happen. The ultimate answer will only come with DNA and video evidence, or the discovery of a body, living or dead. Here's a recent thermal video shot in North Carolina. It's not definitive by any stretch, but it is intriguing. Best thing about it: the creature was reaching for a Zagnut bar.
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"...a large, hairy, bipedal primate, who's likely nocturnal and who roams the North American wilderness..."
ReplyDeleteIndeed. I've seen your Facebook profile picture. Case closed.
-Neruda