He pointed out that scientific studies should start from the groundwork, so the same should apply to Shennongjia matters. 

 

There are many similarities shared among the world’s mythical “Wild Man” creatures, such as the Shennongjia Savage, Big Foot in North America and the Abominable Snowman in China’s Tibet. They are described as walking upright and standing 2 meters tall with arms reaching to their knees, big feet, extrusive eyes, a human-like face and long black or red hair. However, many people doubt if they really exist.

According to the latest news, Hubei Savage Investigation and Research Association is launching a program of scientific inquiry about the Shennongjia Savage. They will raise a fund of 10 million yuan, recruit team members and use advanced techniques to renew the study of the Shennongjia Savage, which has been set aside for more than 10 years, and to “end the long argument with a definitive answer.”

However, many people, including some famous experts, expressed different and even negative opinions about this current investigation.

Zhou Guoxing, a well-known expert on savage research and who took part in research about the Shennongjia Savage, Big Foot and Abominable Snowman, said that these creatures the scientists are hoping to find do not exit but are merely a legend, reported by Guangming Daily.

Zhou: Savage only lives in legendary stories

About the legend of Shennongjia Savage, it has passed hundreds of years. More than 200 years ago, Yuan Mei, a famous poet in Qing dynasty, had also pursued the legend. He wrote in one of his books that: “I asked local people about the Savage, and they told me that they heard of that too but never encountered it.”

Back in 1970s, after many sightings of the Savage in Shennongjia, a large-scale inspection was launched by the Chinese Academy of Social Science, and 110 scientific inspection team members from 16 units, including 56 scout soldiers, took part in the activity.

After an inspection to an area of 1,500 square kilometers, they made great progress on ecology and species, including the existence of the Golden Monkey in Shennongjia, and proposed the construction of a Shennongjia Nature Preserve.

However, they did not find any direct evidence to prove the existence of the Savage. Such a large-scale inspection turned out to be the same as what Yuan Mei said more than 200 years ago.

Zhou was the one of leaders of the investigation. Therefore, in his opinion the investigation had scientifically debunked the existence of the Shennongjia Savage, and many team members agreed.

They also found witnesses who claim to have killed a Savage and even ate their meat. However, it turned out that the “Savages” were actually bears. The so-called hairs of the Savage actually belonged to bears and humans. As for the nests and footprints, they mostly belonged to bears too.

Zhou said: “In theory, the Savage should be a species of creature that stayed at some stage in the process of mankind’s evolution. But I doubt its existence. Regarding those Savages that triggered great debates, they might be just legendary stories or even some wrong impressions caused by some animals.”

Legend cannot replace scientific judgment

One of the people in charge of the Hubei Savage Investigation and Research Association said: “People who insist on the existence of Savage have proof. However, people who deny it have nothing.”

Regarding this line of argument, Zhou said these people conflate legend with scientific proof. He also said all this so-called evidence was not direct, but only some stories. However, the irrefutable fact was that all the “evidence of the Savage” was found to have come from animals or humans after scientific investigation.

Zhou also said legend could not replace scientific judgment, but the mystery of Savage’s existence does have its significance. It could encourage the young to explore nature and strength the desire to protect the ecological environment.

Studies should start from groundwork

Zhou Mingzhen, a domestic paleontologist who had passed away, said the matter of Shennongjia Savage would be put to rest only if we figure out all the matters of animals in Shennongjia area.

Zhou Guoxing agrees with him, and he said people should pay much more attention on the studies of animals living in the Shennongjia area rather than on chasing the Savage that might not exist.