Find me here:
  The Paranormal Guide
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Atlas
  • Glossary

Bigfoot, the Yeti and other cryptid "Wildmen", Part Two

10/11/2014

Comments

 
Picture
Part Two: Accounts of 'wildmen' - their description and behaviours - are given by many different cultures around the world.

For many, these mysterious creatures are considered to be shy and elusive but others describe them as capable of abducting and assaulting humans.

Different Cultures - Different Depictions

(Did you miss part one? Find it here: Bigfoot, the Yeti and other Cryptid Wildmen)


PictureNot all depictions are of a positive nature.
In the 1987 fantasy comedy film 'Harry and the Hendersons', a family hit a Bigfoot with their car while returning from a camping trip. Believing the creature to be dead, they bring it home and discover that not only is the creature very much alive still, but it is kind and friendly. Naming it "Harry", all mayhem ensues when the creature disappears after a failed attempt at returning him to the forest. In a subplot, a French game-hunter attempts to find and kill Harry.

Harry and the Hendersons ends on a feel-good note, with Harry returned to the forest, and it is implied by the appearance of several other creatures that Harry was part of a Bigfoot family. The film was a modest box-office success, but has gained a cult following over the years. It was followed by a sitcom which ran for three years - in the TV show Harry is adopted by the Hendersons, leading to 72 half-hour episodes of comedic hi-jinks.

In the film and sitcom, Harry is portrayed to be gentle, lovable and affectionate, and like a pet. However, this fictionalised character of Harry might be the complete opposite of the real Bigfoot species, if there are, indeed, real Sasquatches.

PictureRecreation of an Orang Pendek sighting.
Differing accounts as to the behaviour and nature of "Wildmen" were given by the indigenous people of North America over the last few centuries. In some regions the creatures were considered demons or bad spirits who were not to be angered. They were attributed with supernatural powers, such as the ability to shape shift, possess human bodies and cause serious illness. These beings were called Skoocooms, and were also said to be cannibalistic. In some communities the Stiyaha (or Kwi-kwiyai) had reputations for carrying people away from their homes, and children were forbidden from talking about them after dark as they were considered a nocturnal race. In some stories these creatures have demonic red eyes and capable of sexually assaulting humans.

In more recent times, creatures like these have been considered responsible for killing livestock and family pets. The Yowie in Australia has been reported since the 1870's to have attacked domestic animals on properties, although many consider them attacks by dingoes.

However, many cultures and groups paint a different, similar picture to their local wildmen species. In some areas the creatures are considered benevolent, plant-eating beings who prefer to stay away from men, preferring to stay close to suspected small colonies of their own kind and conversing in a language similar to Mandarin. The Orang Pendek, a smaller version of Bigfoot that is said to inhabit rainforests in Sumatra, is said to be highly intelligent yet fearful of Men, preferring to hide and watch humans from bushes and foliage. Other similar creatures in Asia also are said to be wary of humans, seeing us as aggressive and destructive.

PictureStill from video showing the alleged Yeren/Human hybrid.
A disturbing aspect that some attribute to some hominid legends are reports of these creatures abducting and sometimes raping humans. A recent story comes from Sichuan Province, China where it is claimed a Yeren - the Chinese version of Bigfoot - reportedly abducted a woman and held her for some time, raping her repeatedly. Managing to escape and flee to her home village pregnant, nine months later, she gave birth to a boy who lived for 33 years confined to a small village nearby. He was strange-looking with features similar to a prehistoric man rather than modern humans. He was abnormally large and ape-like, and although he never spoke, he understood basic Chinese.

Not much is known about him, however video footage does apparently exist of him before his death, and sceptics cite he was born with a nuerodevelopmental disorder called microcephaly (small brain) that is characterised by abnormal head growth, poor brain function and a short life expectancy. These sceptics go on to claim that the mother made the Yeren story up, ashamed of having a retarded baby. However,there are no cases of microcephaly where the sufferer was tall.

What are we to make of this?

In the next instalment, we will look at the Yeti, a similar creature said to inhabit the Himalayas.

What are your thoughts:are these creatures (if they exist) benevolent?
Or in some cases have sinister motives towards humans?

Find part three here:
http://www.theparanormalguide.com/blog/bigfoot-the-yeti-and-other-cryptid-wildmen-part-three

Please post your comments below!

Picture
Matty Sweeney has written many articles for The Paranormal Guide and has a interest in all things mysterious and macabre. Many of his articles explore unsolved mysteries, cryptozoology and UFOlogy.

Matty resides in the Riverland, South Australia, a place with a few mysteries of its own...

You can find more about Matty and his research at 'Marvels and the Macabre with Matty'

Comments
comments powered by Disqus

    The Paranormal Guide Articles

    Here you will find all of the articles written for The Paranormal Guide on all things paranormal, strange, dark, macabre, weird, strange and bizarre!

    All photos with the blog posts remain the property of their respectful owners. If one of your photos is featured here without attribution please leave a comment on the blog and full credit will be given.

    Categories

    All
    Bizarre Experiments
    Conspiracy
    Cryptozoology
    Cursed And Haunted Objects
    Curses Demons And Exorcisms
    Earth Mysteries
    Fakes Frauds And Hoaxes
    Ghosts And Hauntings
    Ghosts Ghouls And Demons
    Interesting And Inspiring People
    Investigations
    Miracles
    My Paranormal
    Paranormal Photos
    Paranormal Vocabulary
    Phobias And Philias
    Post Mortem Practices
    Psychics Predictions And Seers
    Questions And Discussions
    Reviews
    Spirituality And Miracles
    Spirituality And Miracles
    Strange And Macabre Places
    Strange And Tragic Deaths
    This Week In Dark History
    Tragedy
    True Crime And Punishment
    Ufos And Aliens
    Unsolved Mysteries
    Urban Legend Superstition And Folklore
    Weird Odd And Bizarre


    Ashley Hall -
    The Paranormal Guide

    Ashley Hall explores The Paranormal, True Crime, Strange Deaths, Dark History, The Weird, The Strange and The Bizarre! Fact or Fiction? You decide!

    Picture

    Contributors

    Picture
    Matty Sweeney
    Picture
    Peet Banks
    Picture
    Nic Hume

    Picture
    Check out The Paranormal Guide Podcast and join three paranormal investigators and researchers for honest and raw discussions on all things paranormal, strange, dark and macabre HERE!

    Archives

    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012

    Please note that dates are from when the article was originally made.
    The Paranormal Guide does have posts all the way up to the current date.


    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.