China Hunting for Dollars to Hunt Bigfoot Cousin Yeren

(Oct. 11) -- UFOs aren't the only weird things making headlines in China these days. Now we have Bigfoot, or its Chinese cousin, Yeren.

Scientists are preparing to trek into the remote Shennongjia forest region of China's Hubei province to search for that country's version of the hairy ape-man creature dubbed Bigfoot, Sasquatch, Yeti and the Abominable Snowman in other areas of the world.

And if you've got a little over a million dollars to spare, that's about what this expedition will cost to find (or not) Mr. Yeren.

This 1977 still photo from a 16 mm film made by Ivan Marx reportedly shows Bigfoot -- cousin to the Chinese Yeren -- cavorting in the hills of Northern California.

The Hubei Wild Man Research Association, or HWMRA, is recruiting international researchers to join in the search for the elusive animal.

Luo Baosheng of the HWMRA told Xinhua, the official Chinese news service, they're looking for people in good physical health who have some knowledge of biology and really know how to use a camera.

"Most importantly, we want the team members to be devoted, as there will be a lot of hard work in the process," Luo said.

The HWMRA hopes the expedition will put to rest the longstanding debate about the existence of the legendary half-human, half-ape animal that has been reported by more than 400 people in the Shennongjia area.

Eyewitness accounts have described the Yeren as nearly 7 feet tall and covered with gray, red or black hair -- slightly different from a blond-haired Bigfoot spotted in North Carolina a few months ago.

There's no word yet on when the Yeren expedition will begin, as HWMRA is trying to come up with enough funding -- approximately $1.5 million (U.S. currency) -- to load up the outdoor gear and head to the hills.

In previous searches for the Yeren, during the 1970s and 1980s, inconclusive evidence in the form of hair, a footprint, excrement and a possible sleeping nest was discovered.

Read more at Xinhua.