Five Bigfoot theories analysed - 'lost species' to eerie Native American spirit

18 March 2023 , 07:11

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Reports of Bigfoots have been made by people for centuries (Image: Getty Images)

Among the mysteries which have plagued people for centuries, Bigfoot stands tallest.

For decades people have reported spotting the giant ape-like creatures in the dense forests found throughout North America.

Thousands of reels of films, photos and first hand reports have been poured over, with many found to be hoaxes by pranksters.

Some, like the infamous Patterson–Gimlin film from 1967 and shot in the wilds of northern California claiming to show a female Bigfoot, could not be so easily debunked with people thinking for decades it was genuine.

The truth of the matter is, for now, there is no way of knowing for certain if Bigfoot - also known as the sasquatch - exists or if they are just people in furry costumes.

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However there are several theories as to just what the apemen of the Americas could be.

Is Bigfoot a lost species?

Five Bigfoot theories analysed - 'lost species' to eerie Native American spirit

There are several theories as to what the creatures are (PA)

Daniel Perez of the Bigfoot Institute (Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Thanks to the myriad of sightings, stories and claims, experts have a number of samples of hair to genetically test.

In 2013 Dr Melba Ketchum claimed to have conclusive proof after spending five years and £300,000 investigating sightings of Bigfoot.

During the Sasquatch Genome Project’s announcement, the scientists published Bigfoot footage from a similar team, the Erickson Project, which said it had “definitive video and DNA evidence from the elusive sasquatch”.

Dr Ketchum said they had at least one tissue sample from a Bigfoot.

Melba S. Ketchum claimed a decade ago Bigfoot is real (Linkedin)

She added that parts of the DNA from various blood and hair samples were unlike anything seen before in any known species.

Dr Ketchum said at the time: “Not only does the DNA prove their existence, I’ve actually seen them.

“They’re a type of human people, a human hybrid.”

The jury is out.

Is Bigfoot a lost ape?

Are Bigfoots a species believed to be extinct? (Getty Images)

Archeologists in Asia have found bones of apes as large as polar bears living in the south of the continent dating back more than two million years.

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Although the giant creatures went extinct 100,000 years ago, what if some were able to travel as far as the United States?

Could what we call Bigfoot today be a prehistoric creature dating back to the Ice Age?

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Is Bigfoot a Native American spirit?

A still from the infamous Patterson–Gimlin film

Stories of Bigfoot go back much further than the last century.

The creatures also appear in stories from Native American tribes.

A report featuring in the The Journal of Chickasaw History and Culture reads: “Indigenous people across the globe have had relationships with these creatures for hundreds of years, and often associate them with natural or spiritual phenomena.

“Various tribes describe Bigfoot as an enigma shrouded in power and magic. At times, he is perceived as violent and crude, and in other instances he is a helpful partner among tribes.

“General descriptions range from a hairy beast with gray, white, black, brown, or red hair; height ranging from 7 to 10 feet; weighing from 300 to 600 pounds of pure muscle; and a howl that can cause a person's hair to stand on end.”