For decades, the existence of Sasquatch has been highly debated. Skeptics scoff at the idea of North American bipedal hominids while believers cite supporting evidence including print castings, hair samples and video footage. Sightings of these enigmatic forest dwellers date back centuries, spanning across nearly every continent on Earth. However, society continues to dismiss the cryptid as merely a mythological creature or hoaxer’s feeble attempt at trickery. Yet would public perception shift if government agents produced a document listing Bigfoot as a legitimate species? Several decades ago, that precise scenario occurred.
In 1975 the United States Army Corps of Engineers debuted Washington Environmental Atlas, a manual which provided comprehensive information about the region. The book required over three years of research and a budget of $200,000 (which inflation equates to nearly one million dollars in 2019). Comprising the 114-page encyclopedia are maps, geological data, and zoological reports. An excerpt from the paperback declares: “The Washington Environmental Atlas identifies and describes many resources and amenities important to the citizens of the State of Washington. The environment is described not only in terms of the preferences and values of people and agencies, but also in terms of the structure and function of basic ecosystems. Accordingly, significant effort was devoted to a map overlay of ecological life zones, species lists and habitats.”
A page from the Washington Environmental Atlas which provides detailed information about Sasquatch.
For those of you who are unaware, ‘Down the Chupacabra Hole’ is a play on Alice in Wonderland’s magical imagery. After all, the concept of entering a previously hidden word where things aren’t quite what they seem rings true for conspiracy theorists. For nearly two years, I have envisioned a chupacabra-white rabbit hybrid greeting readers who stumble upon my little corner of the internet. I am happy to announce we finally have our official mascot!Thank you to the wonderful Gazoo Shop who created such incredible artwork for DTCH. They specialize in animations, photography, graphic design and video production. If you’re a fan of enigmatic undiscovered species, you’ll love Gazoo’s other illustrations.
In the world of cryptozoology, Bigfoot is one of the most well-recognized specimens. Countless TV shows, books, documentaries and Youtube accounts have been solely dedicated to the pursuit of this mysterious hominid. Yet the Pacific Northwest is not the only location where these supposed forest dwellers reside. On nearly every continent across the globe, countries share corresponding versions of the same entity. Eerily similar legends have been passed down for centuries and speak of an unknown species.
Based on video footage and observational reports, the cryptid is described as bipedal with an ape-like appearance. It has an incredibly muscular frame which ranges from six to ten feet tall. Dark fur covers most of the body and ranges in color from a reddish brown to dark black. Others who claim to have seen the beast say it possesses a pronounced brow bone and a tapered cone-shaped head. Those within close proximity often report a foul smelling odor comparable to garbage.
A still from the Patterson Gimlin Film, one of the best-known pieces of Bigfoot evidence.
Mapinguari
Much of South America is filled with lush jungles, abundant food sources and a temperate climate. Many believe this terrain is an optimum environment to sustain a hominin population. Below the equator they are called Mapinguari, meaning “roaring animal” in Spanish. These hominals have brightly saturated fur and share a number of similarities with their American counterpart. Certain tribal narratives depict them as massive monkey-sloth hybrid. Ancient lore claims weapons are unable to penetrate its tough hide and even bullets cannot slay the elusive one. Biologists propose this creature may in fact be a giant ground sloth, a species thought to have gone extinct over ten thousand years ago.
The Amazon rainforest covers over two million miles. Is it possible that an unknown species is living in the South American jungle?
Yowie
Roaming the immense Australian outback is an intriguing fellow by the name of Yowie. Fables recounted by Aboriginal elders chronicle a primitive type of anthropoid. Oral recollections date back thousands of years and match reported Homo sapien-primate depictions. Ancient cave paintings have been found which depict the so-called “bush monster”. In relation to their American cousins, Yowies are also fairly large and can reach a staggering height of twelve feet. Primordial facial features are present including a broad, flat nose.
Queensland, New South Wales and eastern Australia each have distinctive myths pertaining to the critter. Regional names include Quinkin, Jurrawarra, Puttikan, and Gulaga. In 1876 an article was featured in the Australian Town and Country Journal which featured an “unearthly animal” called the Yahoo-Devil Devil. While some feel that Yowie is sentient, others argue that it’s a dangerous predator which should be avoided. Cryptozoologist are perplexed as to where this mammal originates from due to the territory’s isolated location.
Aboriginal cave paintings in Australia depict an unknown creature.
Chimiset/ Nandi Bear
Lions, hippos, elephants, giraffes, gorillas and crocodiles are some of the wildlife that Africa is renown for. Lesser-known is Nandi Bear or Chimiset, which translated means “devil”. It is often depicted as a huge upright baboon with aggressive tendencies. Others say they more closely resemble hyenas with red hair and short tales. Various tales warn that numerous deaths of livestock and men can be attributed to the brute. Author Frank W. Lane wrote, “What the Abominable Snowman is to Asia, or the Great Sea Serpent is to the oceans, the Nandi Bear is to Africa. It is one of the most notorious of those legendary beasts which, so far, eluded capture and the collector’s rife.”
Africa is said to be home to the Chimiset, a baboon-like Bigfoot.
Yeti
Another infamous hominid is said to roam the picturesque snow-covered Himalayan Mountains. Yeti, or Meh Teh to locals, first entered Western society’s vocabulary during the nineteenth century. A United Kingdom representative named BH Hodson adamantly stated that his assistants were attacked by a monstrous beast in 1832. Fifty-seven years later, L.A. Waddell, a British army major, discovered massive footprints while trekking a high peak in Sikkin. Sherpas informed him that they belonged to a Yeti, a fearsome behemoth who often attacked humans and feasted on the ravaged corpses.
According to Nepalese citizens, this entity is called “rakshas” which translates to demon in English. Religious mountain dwellers worshipped Yeti as a God and were said to use its blood during sacred ceremonies. A Buddhist monastery in Pangboche was supposedly in possession of a Yeti hand. Tom Slick, an oil tycoon and explorer, planned an expedition to take photographs of the appendage. He stole a fragment from the specimen after monks denied his request for a sample. Tests performed on the smuggled bone showed that it was “near human” but not fully human.
A supposed Yeti footprint is captured on film during a 1951 Everest expedition.
Skunk Ape
Nearly 2,000 square miles of southern Florida is covered by a freshwater marsh known as the Everglades. Residents include endangered panthers, massive alligators, seventeen-foot pythons and apparently a hairy humanoid. As the name implies, this nomadic breed is known for producing a strong stench. Seminole tribespeople spoke of identical creatures in respected stories long before spring breakers and Disney enthusiasts migrated south. Skunk Ape, also called Swamp Ape or Swampsquatch, gained popularity amongst the masses after a series of sightings began to occur over sixty years ago. One of the most notable occurrences lead to the infamous Myakka Skunk Ape photographs which clearly capture an unknown species.
An elderly woman captured these images in her backyard near Sarasota, Florida.
Almas
In addition to the infamous Death Worm, Mongolia is further known for a different type of cryptid. Observers affirm the upright-walking hominins more closely resemble people rather than apes. Some speculate that Almas are directly related to humans. Investigators propose that one of our distant ancestors may have survived extinction. If that is the case, it might be possible that a small population could survive in isolated areas. Illustrations of this unique biped can be found in a traditional Tibetan medicinal book. According to British anthropologist Myra Shackley, the encyclopedia “contains thousands of illustrations of various classes of animals (reptiles, mammals and amphibia), but not one single mythological animal such as are known from similar medieval European books. All the creatures are living and observable today.” Artists depicted Almas as a flesh-and-blood living organism.
Almas illustrations are found in a Tibetan medicinal book.
Yeren
Rural Central China is home to its own type of Sasquatch. Yeren, or “wild-man,” resides in remote mountainous regions of western Hubei. The enigmatic primate closely resembles Bigfoot in both appearance and size. According to researchers, the unknown breed’s lineage can be traced back to Gigantopithecus Blacki. Hundreds of respectable individuals have declared they have seen a Yeren. In fact, Chinese government officials conducted an extensive search after copious amounts of sightings had occurred. Evidence gathered included footprints and hair samples which were sent in for analysis. However, just as the studies completed in the United States, results were inconclusive.
A statue in China depicts a Yeren mother and her young.
Orang Pendek
Hailing from Sumatra is a smaller hominoid that goes by the name Orang Pednek. A community of pygmy-like Bigfoot are said to reside deep within tropical foliage. According to eyewitnesses the coat displays a wide spectrum of color variations. Shades of gray, yellow, orange, brown and gold have been observed. Footprint castings reveal a divergent big toe akin to opposable thumbs. Debbie Martyr, a former newspaper editor, spent over fifteen years in Indonesia studying this secretive vertebrate. She allegedly experienced close encounters on several occasions. Multiple common Sasquatch traits have been noted including a crested head, long canine teeth and a prominent brow ridge.
Resident Indonesians revere this “short person” and leave various offerings in attempts to happily coexist. For locals, Orang Pednek is an integral part of daily living. Perhaps such testaments are not so far-fetched. In 2004 scientists unearthed the remains of an unknown type of human predecessor while exploring a cave in Flores. Publications quickly dubbed the skeleton “Hobbit” due a tiny adult stature of three-feet. Might it be plausible that a surviving community of Homo floresiensisis responsible for the Sumatran sightings?
A Homo floresiensis skull in comparison to a modern-day human.
For hundreds of years nations around the planet have experienced Bigfoot firsthand. Intriguingly, most of the aforementionednative groups had no way of communicating with one another. Throughout recent decades an increasing number of credible eyewitnesses have come forward. Ancient drawings, endemic folklore and direct encounters all reference an equivalent being. Perhaps society will one day uncover the truth about these reclusive creatures and learn precisely what our ascendents were expressing all along.
These creatures are only a small selection of the dozens of examples that exist. Let me know if you would like to read about additional types of Sasquatch in the future!
For more than a century people have had supposed encounters with unidentified species of bipedal hominids. Cultures around the world all share similar legends about these mysterious creatures. While many believe in Bigfoot’s existence others disagree and argue that if such a beast existed then one would have been captured by now. However, studies show that in an average person’s lifetime they will only see about three percent of the surrounding wildlife. It may be possible that intelligent species could be living in rural areas and remaining unseen by the general public. There are several pieces of evidence that have yet to be disputed.
Patterson/ Gimlin Film
Perhaps the most famous and iconic footage is a film that supposedly captures a Sasquatch in motion. In 1967 friends Roger Patterson and Robert Gimlin were traveling throughout Northern California on a remote logging road located roughly 38 miles south of Oregon and 18 miles east of the Pacific Ocean. At the time Patterson was shooting both he and Gimlin were riding on horseback. Indigenous tribesmen, hunters and forest rangers all suggest to remain elevated when tracking animals as it eliminates the human scent to provide better odds of a close encounter. The 16mm clip lasts about a minute while an unknown creature is seen walking upright across the frame.
Over the past five decades countless scientists have relentlessly reviewed the footage and none have been able to disprove its authenticity. Firstly, the way the creature moves is very different from a man or woman’s gait. Much of this has to due with the limb ratios. Whatever was recorded in the film has proportionately longer limbs and shorter arms than a human. Every attempt to create a costume and reproduce the same results has failed. Part of this is due to the apparent developed muscles and fat deposits, including breasts which appear to move naturally. If someone were wearing a fur suit it would be impossible to see these subtle physical traits. Patterson died of cancer in 1972 at the young age of thirty-nine. Even through his final days he maintained that what he and Gimlin saw was real.
Sierra Sounds
During the 1970s Al Berry and Ron Morehead went camping in the mountains of Sierra Navada, California. That night, surrounded by vast wilderness, the pair began to hear extremely bizarre and bone-chilling noises. When they returned to the location a second time they decided to string a microphone from a tree branch and record whatever was producing these strange sounds. What followed was a haunting and compelling collection of mysterious vocalizations, which is often called “Samurai Chatter.” These creatures seemed to be conversing with one another and even interacted with Berry and Morehead when they tried to mimic their calls.
Experts were fascinated by the recordings, particularly R. Scott Nelson who was a retired Navy linguist with over 30 years of experience in speech studies. Nelson remains convinced that the audio clearly captured an intelligent conversation of a currently undocumented language. A year-long investigation performed by academic experts at the University of Wyoming concluded that whatever produced the sounds was an unknown species of primate. According to their research, it would be impossible for a human to produce similar results due to our lung capacity limits and restricted vocal rages. Other scientists, audio engineers and linguistic specialists have stated that the recording is genuine and shows no signs of being tampered with or edited in any way.
Hair Samples & Castings
Across the United States many fur samples have been collected which some claim belong to Bigfoot. It appears that the structure of Sasquatch’s medulla, essentially the solid core running down the center of the hair, is so fragmented that DNA cannot be obtained. For this reason the only testable samples are those which still have a follicle attached. Luckily several successful DNA extractions have been performed on these follicles by Doctor Melba Ketchum, a veterinary laboratory professional. She a conducted an intensive five-year-long study with a team of scientists. Their conclusion based on the DNA sequencing was that Bigfoot is “a human relative that arose approximately 15,000 years ago as a hybrid cross of modern Homo sapiens with an unknown primate species”.
Castings are another crucial piece of physical evidence. Jimmy Chilcutt, a fingerprint technician who worked with the Texas police force, was highly regarded by the FBI and DEA for cracking the toughest cases. Not only is he an expert of human prints but also those of primates. After investigating over 150 castings of potential Bigfoots, Chilcutt was shocked by what he found. The dermal ridges, the foot’s version of a fingerprint, were completely abnormal. Rather than running horizontally (as humans’ do), they ran vertically. Additionally, the ridges were twice the thickness of that of a man. Within the same set of prints was a toe splay with variations that could not be recreated by someone wearing plaster molds strapped to their feet. Both Chilcutt and zoology experts all stated that these castings were authentic and North America is home to an unknown primate.
Each year an astounding 15,000 to 18,000 new species are discovered. Might it be plausible that this sentient creature is simply choosing to remain hidden from mankind’s barbaric ways? What do you think is the best piece of evidence supporting the existence of Bigfoot? Share your thoughts in the comments!
