The debate on the link between humans and apes has not yet been completely resolved, according to many experts. Neanderthals who were evidenced to have existed in Central and Northern Asia 350,000 years ago, provided the scientific community with information on human evolution.
Compared to the famous Bigfoot and sasquatch of North America, China has its own version of the creature, called yeren in the native tongue, which translates as wild man. Paleontologists claim that possibly 1,000 to 2,000 of the yeren live in Central China, particularly in Shennongjia Nature Reserve, in Hubei province. Variants of the name are xueren, yiren and yeh ren, which more accurately means wild man of Shennongjia.
The yeren is described as a large animal, appearing much like the orangutans of Southeast Asia, but are bipedal and can walk upright. The height of the creature is estimated between five to seven feet, with the entire body covered with red to dark brown fur. The yeren has a large belly, but is reported to be able to move quickly and run fast. The facial region resembles a cross between an ape’s and a human’s. The yeren can leave a large footprint, about 16 inches long, displaying five toes like humans, but with a structure closer to that of apes.
Scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have gathered evidences for the existence of the yeren, which is claimed to have been seen by many tourists in the Shennongjia Nature Reserve. These experts have been able to uncover footprints, and have even made plaster moldings for further examination. Most scientists theorize that the yeren may have been a species of giant ape, called Gigantopithecus blacki, which lived in Asia but was declared to have been extinct for over 500,000 years.
Many of the locals believe that the yeren is a carnivore and preys on humans. Their tales narrate stories of giant beasts that grab captive humans by the arms and eat their flesh after. Though the Chinese scientific community continues to send expeditions to the nature reserve in search of the yeren, many of their assumptions remain as theories. However, the stories of the yeren continue to be part of Chinese folklore and myths.
According to the journal of Cryptozoology, some more detailed descriptions of the Chinese wild man are: the hairs covering its body are about three to four centimeters long, the male genitalia resembles that of humans, the female yeren has prominent breasts, and the creature gives a distinctive yell as part of its language.
Combined theories from accounts and observations of yeren stories claim that these creatures don’t live in communities, but males and females move about in pairs. Though they walk on two hind legs, the yeren can use all four limbs when running fast or when climbing. As old tales regard the yeren as man-eaters, most accounts claim that they eat fruits such as berries and nuts, sometimes insects, and empty corn cobs have been located in areas where the footprints were sighted.
There is a website that describes the Yeren and numerous other creatures of Cryptozoology in detail, this website is called: Unknown Creatures and it may be found at this url: http://www.unknown-creatures.com
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