Chinese scientists are to launch a search early next year for the abominable snowman after three giant hairy humanoids were sighted in a remote mountainous region in central China.

So confident are scientists from the _Chinese Academy of Sciences_ that the creatures will prove to be the legendary yeti or Bigfoot that they have set up the Committee for the _Search of Rare and Strange Creatures_ to try to flush the shy apemen from their mountain retreat.

The committee chairman, Professor Yuan Zhenxin, said last week the search followed a "major discovery" when tourists provided the best positive identification in China of the manlike creatures which are supposed to inhabit Tibet and the wilderness areas of America and Canada.

The sighting was witnessed by ten Chinese engineers on a pleasure trip to the Shennongjia National Forest Park in western Hubei province, central China. The group were driving down a steep mountain pass at sunset when they came upon three figures more than 6 feet tall, covered with long dark hair, with ape-like features and protruding foreheads. The engineers gave chase when the creatures fled into the dense forest but were themselves overcome with fear when they saw how the creatures were able to plow through the undergrowth with superhuman speed and strength.

"The creatures were not human, or bears or apes; we believe they an the yeti" Professor Yuan said. "It is a great discovery, the best sighting ever, because the engineers saw them about 30 yards away."

"The engineers were all very well-educated people and have been of great assistance in our investigation to find a yeti and prove it lives in China." A team sent into the forest by the science academy to research the rare sighting returned to the area five times to collect samples of hair, footprints and droppings.

Subsequent analysis revealed the samples came from a long-haired herbivorous animal with a foot that measured 20 inches. "We are very excited about the findings and the committee has been set up to exchange views and send 20 scientists into Shennongjia forest early next year," Professor Yuan said.

Translated by Maria Johnson, Hong Kong and California
From the files of Bobbie Short

Back to What's New?
Back to Newspaper & Magazine Articles
Home/Main

Portions of this website are reprinted under the Fair Use Doctrine of International Copyright Law as educational material without benefit of financial gain.
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html
This proviso is applicable throughout the entire website.