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Gigantopithecus Part 2

Most of us in the Community are familiar with the Bigfoot-Giganto Theory. It is based on the belief that bigfoot are surviving relatives of the genus Gigantopithecus and that this creature crossed the Bering Land Bridge into North America and evolved into the modern day bigfoot.

So let's break it down by listing pro and con. 

Pro: Walking with Cavemen, a BBC production reflected the belief by some scientists that G. blacki was a bipedal ape. They supported the judging of the fossils that seems to claim a more upright posture rather than the beast going on all fours. The height was estimated at 12 ft tall, weight guessed at 400 to 1400 lbs. -- a perfect description of a living sasquatch.

Con: There is a strong view that the sheer weight of such a large creature would be too great for the body to support on only two legs. There would be too much stress placed on the legs, ankles, and feet. If the creature walked on all fours, the weight would be much better distributed.

Pro: Grover Krantz endorsed the theory of G. blacki being bipedal. He asserted that since the jawbones are U-shaped and widen towards the rear, it pointed to a more human-like body. That the skull was most likely placed directly on top of the spine, allowing room for the windpipe, instead of forward like a great ape. This would be more in keeping with walking upright, bipedal.

Con: A complete skeleton has yet to be found. There are no fossil remains. Therefore, the conjecture of being bipedal has no proof.

Pro: Fossils are rare. They are formed under only special circumstances. If all bones became fossils, we would be buried under fossil remains.

Con: Primatologists say G. blacki walked on its knuckles similar to baboons. They were not bipedal.

Pro: Franz Weidenreich in his 1946 book "Apes, Giants and Man" asserted that G. blacki may have been more human-like than ape-like.

Con: Gigantopithecus was hunted by early humans which promoted extinction.

Pro: Gigantopithecus actually lived along side Homo erectus for a million years.

Con: Gigantopithecus would have had to change it's diet and adapt quickly to it's changing environment. It would have been impossible for the creature to have crossed the Bering Land Bridge and survived.

Pro: Numerous other species that crossed the Bering Land Bridge adapted signicantly to their new environments. If he is considered a highly intelligent creature, it could be compared to homo sapiens and their abililty to adapt to changing conditions. The species would have adapted and , on it's way to North America,  have developed into a smaller, bipedal animal and more human in appearance, to become today's bigfoot.

Con: There is a distinct lack of fossil records of ape species in N. America and that the monkeys in the southern portions of N. America are just that: monkeys, not apes.

Dr. Jeff Meldrum

Dr. Jeff Meldrum has expressed his belief that bigfoot may be some form of Gigantopithecus that came from east Asia into North America by the land bridge. Humans crossed that way. And if bigfoot or it's ancestors crossed,  it would explain in part the lack of fossil records to show the emergence of giant apes in North America. If bigfoot evolved elsewhere but traveled here, then the remains of it's ancestor species would not be here either.

John Green: "I think that the Sasquatch is probably Gigantopithecus, .......".

Mark Hall, Cryptozoologist: states he believes that G. blacki is the explanation for  "True Giant" sightings, not the traditional bigfoot reports. He maintains that True Giants are unusually large bigfoot, 10 to 20 ft tall, some being over 50 ft tall; with four toes, and are found in North America, Africa, S. America, Asia and Australia. He claims most of them hibernate their whole life and it is rare to see one.

I'm certain I have missed reasons for and against the theory. And I've missed notables that have expressed their opinions. Feel free to add them in comments. This is surely an interesting debate that will not be resolved any time soon.

Sources : Finding Bigfoot:Everything you need to know by Martha Brockenbrough; The Bigfoot Book (The Encyclopedia of Sasquatch, Yeti, and Cryptid Primates) by Nick Redfern; Sasquatch, the Apes Among Us by John Green; "Gigantopithecus" in Cryptid Wiki (cryptidzwikia.com); "The Bigfoot-giganto theory" in BFRO.net; "Gigantopithecus blacki: Bigfoot-Giganto Theory" in exemplore.com/cryptids ; "Why bigfoot cannot be Gigantopithecus" by Retrieverman in retrieverman.net; "Did Bigfoot Really Exist? How Gigantopithecus became Extinct" by Erin Wayman in smithsonianmag.com; "Bigfoot Theories" in washingtonbigfoot.com.

Nancy

This Post By TCC Team Member Nancy Marietta. Nancy has had a lifelong interest in the paranormal and cryptids. Nancy is also a published author and her book, The Price of war, has been met with great reviews.

[Please Note: Sadly Nancy passed away at the first of January, 2022. We will continue to honor her and her research by sharing her work. RIP Nancy. -Thomas]

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