New here. Great Forum!

Hi. I just found your forum today and am tickled they have something like this for AR!
I am originally from Utah (Wasatch Mountains) and moved to Jonesboro about 4 years ago. I have been absolutely fascinated by "the big guy" for a very long time. I worked at the zoo in S.L.C. for a few years when I was much younger. The only personal experience I've had with primates are the apes I had the pleasure of knowing at the zoo. (one in particular, Gorgeous, now deceased, stole my heart. I will never forget her)
I worked with all types of exotic parrots, and non-venomous reptiles mostly but was able to be around many other exhibits as I knew many of the zoo keepers. I did meet Jane Goodall once. She was there to dedicate the new Savannah. I would love to say we sat down and had an in-depth conversation, but I only got to shake her hand quickly in passing with a very fast introduction.
As I said earlier, I have been fascinated with bigfoot ever since I was little and first saw the Patterson film. I have never had an experience of my own, but my cousin has had one that may or may not be related to bigfoot. I'll let you decide.
Rick (my cousin from Utah) is a very no-nonsense, very successful business owner. He doesn't believe in bigfoot, ghosts, etc. He has spoken about this once to me and refused to talk about it afterwards. This happened in UT. (I don't know exactly which mountain range they were at at the time.)
Rick is an avid hunter and has been since he was a small boy (he is now about 40 yrs. old). He is fully aware of what animals sound like and look like that are indigenous to UT. About 4-5 years ago, he and a hunting buddy of his had gone on the elk bow hunt. They had hiked quite a ways back into the country and said they hadn't seen any other hunters as they had hiked so far in. He and his friend decided to split up to see if they could scare up some elk. Rick said he was sitting on a ledge overlooking a ravine and his friend had hiked up and around the ravine hoping they would scare the elk down through the ravine where Rick could get a shot. Rick's friend was gone only a short time when Rick said he heard an extremely loud, roar-like scream that echoed off the mountains. He said it sounded like it was coming from up the mountain from where he was and not too far away. He said it scared him so bad he dropped his rifle and the hairs on his neck were standing straight up. He scanned the area above him but saw nothing but the treeline. A moment later the scream sounded again. He said it sounded like it was in coming from the treeline above him and so loud! In short time, Rick's friend came running from the opposite direction asking, "Did you hear that?!" They both had an overwhelmingly eerie feeling and decided to hike out. He said as they were hiking out as quickly as possible, the eeriness stayed with them for quite some time. They never did see what made the scream. They also never returned to that area.
When I teased Rick and told him it was a mountain lion, he became quite irritated and only said, "that was NO mountain lion, no bear, no way." I believe him.
I think they are real. And hope they are discovered, but at the same time sad if they are.
I know how intelligent gorillas are. Just look into their eyes up close, if you are able to. I can only imagine how intelligent bigfoot is. I don't know if he can even be catagorized as "ape." They may be far more intelligent than anyone imagined. I only pray if they are discovered....
some animals don't belong in zoos or the treatment man has to offer. Just my opinion.
Thanks for listening.