Chinese researchers may look for Bigfoot

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WUHAN, China, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Some Chinese scientists say they want to embark on a thorough search of mountainous central China for the legendary creature "Yeren," or Bigfoot.

It's been nearly 30 years since the last concerted attempt to prove the existence of the ape-like creature that has been the subject of hundreds of unconfirmed sightings through the decades.

Wang Shancai, vice president of the Hubei Wild Man Research Association, says today's technology will give researchers a better shot at finding the reclusive creature, if it does exist, the Chinese news agency Xinhua reported Saturday.

"Unlike expeditions three decades ago, the better technological support will help us get closer to solving the mystery," said Shancai, a 75-year-old expert with the Hubei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology.

"We are now working together with the China Three Gorges University to develop long-time energy-supply devices to support cameras that will be installed in the ape man's possible habitat."

Prime "Yeren" habitat is believed to be deep in the remote mountains in Hubei's Shennongjia Nature Reserve.

Previous expeditions in the 1970s and '80s produced hair, footprints, excrement and sleeping nests but nothing that conclusively pronounced that Bigfoot slept here.

Wang said, however, test results showed the hair samples found did not match humans or any known animals.

Luo Baosheng, another vice president of the association, which was created last November and boasts more than 100 members, says a new search would target caves.

"We will have three expedition teams search every cave in three important regions in Shennongjia where the unidentified beast would be mostly likely to appear," Luo said.