Finding Bigfoot down under

I admit that I'm still childishly fascinated (and addicted) to "Finding Bigfoot", a weird series somewhere on the border between serious research, entertainment and bunk. For those who never seen it, "Finding Bigfoot" is an Animal Planet staple about a team of four researchers trying to find Bigfoot, a legendary ape-man supposedly lurking in the U.S. forests. Official science rejects its existence, but thousands of eye witnesses believe otherwise.

In contrast to other monster hunters, the team in "Finding Bigfoot" isn't completely scripted. The Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO) actually exists. These guys really believe in monsters! I admit that the four investigators are more colourful characters than the actual creature they are tracking. Some of the eye-witnesses are fascinating, as well. Thank God, since the BFRO (so far) hasn't been able to catch a Bigfoot - not even on camera.

The most fascinating episode of Season Three is definitely no. 8, which aired only two days ago. Tired of roaming the United States, the BFRO heads for the Gold Coast of Australia to investigate reports about Yowie, a local (and much scarier) version of Bigfoot. This episode is *extreme*: to paraphrase the team's house sceptic R. Holland: I want to believe in the reports, but I can't rule out the biggest hemp party down under! While most U.S. eye-witnesses simply talk about seeing big, hairy creatures in the woods (often for just a moment), the Australian witnesses take things to an entirely new level. As behoves good Aussies, I suppose.

One man claims that Yowie, after looking into his window and basically paralyzing him, stole his eight goats, mutilated them and hang them high in a nearby tree to "send a message". Sounds like a scene from "Predator"! Another witness made the mistake of sleeping in his car, and was in for a rude awakening when a Yowie shook it rather violently. The poor witness felt like he was inside a washing machine. A woman called Pixie saw a Yowie accosted by two dingoes. The "big fella" scared them away - apparently, the dogs were in the wrong neighbourhood. Whatever is going on in the Australasian subcontinent, it can't be pretty.

I also noticed that several of the main witnesses were Yowie researchers (i.e. true believers) and that Pixie seems to be new agey. But then, Yowie encounters seem to be rarer than Bigfoot ditto, perhaps explaining the "in-house" character of the town hall meeting at which the BFRO searched for credible witnesses.

After some boomerang practice, an Aboriginal welcome ceremony and an encounter with a rugby team mascot dressed as a Yowie (what else?), the BFRO team heads into the Australian rainforest. As usual, some of their methods to attract the elusive ape-man are pretty unorthodox. Team member Bobo plays the didgeridoo, and on a second field trip the team brings a kangaroo as bait! In contrast to most other BFRO trips, however, the nocturnal excursions turn out to be successful: the team does hear strange howls, a tree mysteriously falls to the ground, and team member Cliff gets responses to his wood-knocks. Finally, Bobo hears strange, human-like voices in the woods (unfortunately not heard on the video recording). If you are positive to cryptozoology, this show will rock your world!

Personally, I was struck by the paranormal aspects of the Yowie encounters, played down by the researchers (since the BFRO claims that both Bigfoot and his Australian matie are real, flesh-and-blood animals). The paralysis experienced by the man with the vanishing goats will sound familiar to all researchers of the paranormal. Cattle mutilations are also associated with the paranormal. The idea that Yowie can speak sounds farfetched in the extreme, if we assume that we are simply dealing with an ape. Bobo also reveals that he has a sound recording of a Bigfoot speaking in Apache, saying "We are here"! Now, why would an animal use *those* very words?

I don't think this show will ever convince sceptics. This third season has experienced its fair share of both high-brow and low-brow dissing. However, if you are a cryptozoology nerd, a true believer in the mysterious, or just have a strange sense of humour (preferably all three!) you might want to check out "Finding Bigfoot".

They are here. Or, at the very least, down under.