BEIJING (AP) -- Chinese scientists are setting off on a year long
expedition to investigate reports of a 7-foot "Bigfoot'' wandering the
wilderness. The 30-member team will set off next month for the Shennongjia
Nature Reserve in central China, where for centuries residents have
reportedsightings of a creature that is half man and half ape, the
official Xinhua News Agency reported Wednesday.
Some scientists expect to find an undiscovered species of ape men, the
report said. "The most satisfactory thing would be to get a picture or
even a videotape of the creature,'' said Wang Fangchen, the scientist
heading the expedition.
The expedition plans a scientific survey of the region's
environment,geography and meteorology, even if it fails to find Bigfoot.
The nature reserve, in the western part of Hubei province, is home to rare
species, including the golden monkey.
Anthropologists, biologists and geneticists from the Chinese Academy of
Science, Beijing University and Beijing Normal University will be team
members, the report said. An advance team began searching in March for the
legendary creature.