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I submitted a paper to RHI last November, but it's still in peer review. In the meantime, here is a YouTube video of my presentation at the Kiamichi Mountains Bigfoot Conference in May: The first few slides, omitted here, were about DNA and the microphone was not on and so were not recorded. Nothing new in them that you probably don't already know.

Agree. Agree BUT .. Agree BUT !!!! ... I think the quality and detail of information on the non-forum platforms is somewhat lacking. Or maybe you could say the signal to noise ratio is lower. So while forums may be perceived as old fogey stuff they're still where to go for better quality. The others are fine if you're primarily there for entertainment but if you are trying to do research .. nah.

I just looked back at all of the posts I made this year. There are nearly zero posts in any actual bigfoot discussion. I do read most of the threads, but rarely react. It may seem as though I've lost interest, but I haven't. I just don't participate in the discussions. About 90% of my posts are about BFRO or John Green incidents. 9% are stupid memes in the tar pit, and maybe 1 % are a reply to any actual discussion. My thing here is the SSR. I have a bunch of BFRO reports to classify, but I have very little time in Spring and Summer, so they remain unclassified. It's a Winter project for me... I did just share some new audio though. I recorded some interesting sounds in Oklahoma. As far as Noobs go... I find that it's best to wait it out when a new member comes along that really tries to engage in discussion. Too often they showed up just to be a disruptor.

One of the things about many noobs that frustrates me is they don't do their research before posting, they throw stuff up that has been rehashed countless times as if it has to be new and startling to others merely because it is new and startling to them. There's a significant component of narcissism and entitlement there. I'm old, tired, and short-fused when it comes to that level of disrespect .. and it may be that a lot of long established members are in the same boat choosing to disengage rather than react to it.

Several years ago, when I was active on the JREF/International Skeptics Forum, I ended up betting that Sasquatch would be scientifically proven by X date, which was a couple of years in the future. In the negotiations, I was able to talk them into giving me odds of 50,000 to 1, so I put up $50. That X date came and went and I paid $50 to a charity of his choice. It was fun and added something to the back and forth banter that I dealt with on that site. I wasn't ever going to collect $2.5 million if science finally proved they exist, but I was willing to put my money up for the cause.

This is a drawing of my first encounter. Late 70's, so no cell phones. I have explained it before, but thought a drawing of it would help. I will post the drawing and then post an explanation a little later.

I was a pretty prolific member for a while. I still check in semi-regularly, but don’t feel the desire to post much anymore. For me, it’s the overwhelming negativity on a topic that is supposed to be enjoyable. The overall Bigfoot community is growing larger every day, but it’s also becoming more fragmented every day as well. Even this thread, which is about why is the forum dying, is filled with complaints about pretty much everything under the Sasquatch sun. TV shows, YouTube, rehashed topics, etc. Everyone has their own likes and dislikes, but there is a constant complaining that permeates the Bigfoot community that often turns into outright hostility when what are relatively minor differences arise. People who believe or have an interest in Bigfoot should have a great deal in common, but instead those minor differences of opinion cause a lot of discord. Don’t like Mountain Monsters or Expedition Bigfoot? Don’t watch it. However, shows like that plant a seed of interest in a new generation, insuring that there is a fresh crop of enthusiasts who will hopefully carry on the search. TV executives don’t really make shows geared towards real life Bigfoot researchers. Maybe just be glad that the subject has enough mainstream acceptance to make its way onto television in any form? Tired of a topic that (for you) has been beaten to death? Scroll past it. Are you a flesh and blood proponent irritated by the Woo? Are you a Woo supporter who hates the Apers? Well, at the end of the day you both have more on common with one another than you would have with a skeptic. Not to mention that we are dealing with almost zero proven facts about the phenomenon, so you both have a good chance at being somewhat correct. A lot of the members here want a more active forum, with more active participants. You can’t have that with multiple filters put into place. Anyway, I would like to see the forum become more active again. But, to do that you need new members who stick around. They need to enjoy the place to do that. Maybe start there?

For me? The problem with new members is that many of them are trolls. You never know if they are asking a question in good faith, or are setting up a gotcha moment. So I would say I have become somewhat jaded with new members unfortunately. Back to the forum in general. I do not possess the tech saavy to run this forum. But as long as Gigantor sticks around for the tech stuff? I pledge to keep the lights on one way or another. Just like the jet boating forum Mean Chicken, this forum is a repository of knowledge that I do not want to see extinguished.

True. But the Smela case followed Backdoc's suggested scenario almost to a T, only failing because Smeja and his partner failed to take and distribute pics immediately. Which is the precise reason cited by Smeja as to why they left the scene immediately. This should be no surprise, especially in the current litigious society, and especially with a creature that might very well be a feral human or human subspecies.

Real or Fake? Is it a biological life-form? Or a rubber dummy stuffed with pig guts? I can say with complete conviction that it doesn't matter. Why? No physical evidence. And that video has made the rounds on social media. It did not matter.

It is now proven that government didn't need to silence Patterson and Gimlin. All they needed to do was place tighter controls on access to the Bluff Creek area. BTW, the area is closed all winter long, when tracks in the snow can tell their tale. Every year. You really don't have to "cover it up". All you have to do is officially ignore it and occasionally make a silly joke to make believers look stupid. Your scenario is fine, and if it went that way, it would essentially out the squelches. But, like I wrote, that's essentially what happened with Smeja, but without the videos and body parts, but of course, that's because he figured he'd be arrested...................and he was right................... I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.

and I was told this forum was dying. great thread. thanks all.

If anyone goes they should come see me in Newport! I am still healing up from surgery.

Probably the appraised auction value like with antiques because of all the fossils we have here we call members, speaking for myself in the antiquarian sense too

Ive watched your videos with you and your wife doing research together. Quite frankly with a Discovery camera crew? You guys are every bit as good as any other TV show out there. And maybe thats the secret to the BFF? It needs a media front to funnel people back to the forum. And same goes for the WV crew and Lane County crew. Also a shout out to everyone that posts in the Field Trip section. Looking at pictures and video of beautiful mountains and forests and possibly evidence is always a highlight for me personally.

I haven’t posted in ages and rarely comment, but I am watching. Willing to bet there’s a lot of others on here doing the same. Casual lurkers make up sizable chunks of any forum

Thank you for sharing. No matter what that impolite poster said.

I feel like this person(s) has 10 more sock puppet accounts loaded in his gun.

Well, I did do an online business lookup of the Bigfoot Forums which revealed that this site is worth over $1,000,000!!! Amazing how fast those $20 contributions to the cause add up. Also amazing? How wrong online business lookup sites can be.

Any audio, video or photos posted here are stolen by internet keyboard warriors. Posting is a choice. Keep in mind that this forum is an internet message board, not a research site. I think that newbies visit expecting instant answers. There are a lot of smart people on the BFF and there is no expectation to post daily, weekly, monthly or longer. Just keep checking back. There will always be haters. Trolls self destruct on the BFF, some sooner, some later.

Do you think contributing to this forum is making posts about hoaxes, circle jerks and insulting researchers? And this question also goes to our members that liked his post? Or where do we draw the line with “Troll derangement syndrome” as Foxhill put it? Why do you do it? Why can’t you be amicable?

@norseman Cool. I'm down in that country (north of the border) for the first time in my life this week - the last part of BC I haven't spent time in. A few days of work in Cranbrook and Fernie, about 100 miles north of Kalispell. Man, it is beautiful down here.

For the record, Reddit is a dump, designed to elicit one word replies and ruled by leftist statist trolls who would as soon set you on fire as entertain your opinion if you don't strictly follow the populist zeitgeist. R/Bigfoot is thus a cesspool of short attention span theater with constant repeating deluge of AI garbage, repeated photo posts and people who can't be bothered to Google something. It's fine that it exists, it keeps that kind of idiot off here.

I agree many online communities can be described this way. it's certainly true of open source software development communities. But if we look at bigfootforums.com as a 'brand' that people hold a certain impression toward, we can look at the site's direct competitors for members -- say, r/bigfoot -- and see if ChatGPT gives us the same or similar description of that online community (prompt and response pasted below). Of course, this is ChatGPT and its pulling mainly from reddit for its response; there's certainly bias here -- actually, it reads like an advertisement for r/bigfoot. I'm not saying one brand's impression is better than another. Brands (including online communities) should be positioned differently to stand out as unique and attract certain customers or members (e.g., Ford vs Toyota vs Tesla). Go to X if you want this kind of experience; go to Y if you want that kind of experience. I guess my point is that bigfootforums can fix stuff internally (server crashes, search capabilities) but the external image might also need to be considered. This would depend on what image BFF wants to have among its competitors... and what kinds of members it wants to attract and retain. "Come to BFF if you want some good ole American in-your-face confrontation and arrogance. Go to r/bigfoot if you want European civility and kindness... and then kindly **** off." That's just as an example of course. Back in my marketing research days there was a story about Coca-Cola many people would paraphrase. It went something like, "The CEO of Coke once said that you can take away all of the company's facilities, equipment, people, and other assets. Just leave me the brand name and I'll be just fine." ------------------------ ChatGPT on r/bigfoot Prompt: Can you give me a description on current attitudes and perceptions people hold toward the r/bigfoot subreddit as an online community? Response: The r/bigfoot subreddit is a vibrant and inclusive online community dedicated to discussions about Bigfoot and related phenomena. Established in December 2009, the subreddit has grown to become one of the most active platforms for Bigfoot enthusiasts, researchers, and skeptics alike. Community Atmosphere and User Experiences Members of r/bigfoot appreciate the community's openness to a wide range of perspectives. The subreddit encourages civil discourse, allowing both believers and skeptics to share their views. A recent post highlights this inclusive environment, stating: "Believers and skeptics alike are welcome here, and friendly discussion is highly encouraged." reddit.com This approach fosters a respectful and engaging atmosphere where users can discuss various aspects of Bigfoot lore and research. Moderation and Governance The subreddit maintains a clear set of rules to ensure constructive discussions. The primary rule emphasizes civility:reddit.com "Please keep all discussion civil. First infraction you will get a warning. Another incident will result in a ban." reddit.com This policy helps maintain a welcoming environment for both new and long-standing members. Content and Discussions r/bigfoot hosts a diverse array of content, including personal encounter stories, analysis of audio and video evidence, discussions on folklore, and debates on the authenticity of various claims. For instance, users often engage in critical evaluations of purported Bigfoot sightings, discussing factors that may contribute to misidentification. One user questioned the tendency to label certain evidence as fake, prompting a thoughtful discussion on the criteria used to assess authenticity. lirias.kuleuven.be+1reddit.com+1reddit.com Additionally, the subreddit features lighter content, such as Bigfoot-themed art and humor, contributing to a well-rounded community experience. Overall Perception Overall, r/bigfoot is perceived as a supportive and engaging community that balances open-mindedness with critical analysis. Its inclusive nature and emphasis on respectful dialogue make it a valuable space for anyone interested in exploring the mysteries surrounding Bigfoot.

In a previous life I worked in market research, mainly conducting attitude surveys regarding brand names in various product/service categories. So when I think about changing interest levels in bigfootforums.com, I wonder about the site's brand image. In the absence of a full-blown marketing study, I just asked ChatGPT to tell me. (response pasted below, screenshot attached). Looks like there *might* be a few issues that deter new members from joining and/or sticking around. It's helpful to keep in mind that if a new (or even a long-time) member feels slighted here, they could go over to Reddit and bad-mouth bigfootforums.com. -- that one slighted member has turned off possibly hundreds of prospective members. ------------------------- ChatGPT prompt & response Prompt: Can you give me a description on current attitudes and perceptions people hold toward bigfootforums.com as an online community? Response: As of mid-2025, BigfootForums.com appears to be inactive or offline, with users reporting difficulties accessing the site since mid-2024. reddit.com Community Atmosphere and User Experiences Historically, the forum was known for its stringent registration process, requiring new members to post an introduction and limiting them to one post per day until reaching a certain threshold. This approach, while intended to deter trolls, was often described as convoluted and discouraging for newcomers. Long-time participants observed that the forum tended to be dominated by a small group of regulars who were often skeptical of outsiders. This led to perceptions of the community being grumpy, combative, and resistant to differing viewpoints. Moderation and Governance The forum's moderation was perceived as heavy-handed by some users. There were instances of users being banned without clear explanations, leading to frustration and, in one case, a user threatening legal action over their banning. thelaw.com Content and Discussions Despite these challenges, the forum hosted in-depth discussions on various Bigfoot-related topics, such as audio recordings and field studies. However, the overall tone of the community may not have been conducive to open and inclusive dialogue. Current Status Given the reported inaccessibility of the site since mid-2024, it is unclear whether BigfootForums.com will resume operations. For those seeking alternative platforms to discuss Bigfoot and related phenomena, communities like the r/bigfoot subreddit may offer a more inclusive environment.

I was also encouraged by this episode of Expedition Bigfoot. These samples may be the first of their kind for Bigfoot. I will be glued to the screen when Season 7 begins. Christina Burns is the DNA Profiling Facility Manager at the International Forensic Research Institute of Florida International University. She should be well qualified to do the DNA sequencing. Her human-like preliminary results are what I found in aquatic eDNA, which, however, is less definitive than a blood sample and more extensive sequencing. https://case.fiu.edu/about/directory/profiles/burns-christina.html

reddit is run by fascist dictator moderators who ban anyone they don't agree with politically. given that most conservatives are banned, and given that most hunters are conservative, they have priced themself right out of most of the encounters.

I have been watching forums die a slow death for years. I.e. The old jet boating forum Mean chicken is gone. Along with it all of its extensive knowledge. The younger crowd doesn’t do forums for some reason. They stick with social media. And then cry about censorship, etc. I just don’t get it. I find forums like these much easier to navigate and interact with.

Interest in many things comes in waves, ebbs and flows. Is it possible your time of joining the forum coincided with one of the peaks? I know this to be true of my own. Thinking of a parallel .. no athlete runs 4 minute miles 7 days a week. It is true of our interest here. I think the period we are in now with less interest, less bright shiny things to draw our attention, is more representative of bigfootery over the long haul. There is also a change of medium when it comes to information exchange. There are TONS of small bigfoot groups on facebook. Lot of people trying to monetize their interest which I think distracts from the larger communities like this one. There is not much to do but get out there and do your own thing in the woods.

"I do believe there's a significant possibility of there being a hoaxer in these woods." Just my opinion and totally understanding that others could conclude otherwise (if you were drunk or high). And I do believe you have correctly identified the mask used. I'm guessing that boot black was applied to the mask to make the face more consistently dark. Listening to the video (so others don't have to), the purported pictures aren't even shown until around the seven minute mark and the "witness" is having a conversation with "Nef" (so recording audio) but only taking stills, not videotaping so that the super-true, really lifelike movement (of people rearranging the props) can be seen. Amazing he has 80,000 subscribers on YouTube. And very sad.

No, I don’t actually. It’s not an issue where “records are not available to prove it either way” What does Hillary Clinton have to do with anything? Many times, and maybe this is one of those times, she happens to be the favourite topic of certain people. I suspect when she was able to practice law in Arkansas she had to provide copies of her diploma, grades, and so on. Thus without my access to her personal papers I have to trust the bar of Arkansas who vetted her ability to take the test. IF Bob claims to have 2 degrees he does not actually have what does that make him? How about answering my yes or no Question and leave others out of it. I’ll go where the facts take me. I won’t ask the facts to go where I am and swat them away if I don’t like what they suggest. Fine. What do YOU say? Does Bob have 2 degrees. 1 from MIT and one from Cal Tech?

Exactly. At this point I am ( again ) convinced that Bigfoot is not some species of undiscovered Ape. But some type of large human subspecies.

This is especially true today. Video is too easily created deceptively. You simply can't believe what you see on video.

To: "the Government knows" crowd This is for those who think the Government knows about Bigfoot and is keeping it quiet I have a Question: Scenario: A person is hunting a carrying a cell phone. They shoot Bigfoot and kill it. (Choose any reason you wish. Mistaken Identify, an act of self-defense or whatever). 1) They take pics of it and video with the cell phone. 2) They post the selfies on Facebook and various social media. 3) They call the cops and others 4) The cops show up. At this point (a) everyone on social media is sharing the pics and vids (b) those who show up are regular cops and game warden types who just minutes before were worrying about someone having an updated fishing license or littering. At no time do these 'cops' know they are somehow supposed to know they are supposed to help the government keep Bigfoot quiet. 5) While these local cops sort things out, the videos and pics on social media continue like wildfire. 6) These guys fill out a report and call DNR type people as well as a coroner. Who knows, maybe even the state university to see if there is some primates expect who can come down. My Question: What actions could the "Government" take to put the horse back in the barn in this example? I am suggesting any effort- even if such a government wanted to silence the story- is too late. There really isn't anything in my story problem that is unrealistic. In fact, I think I am even making any steps the government would need to do to silence the story to be much easier than it actually would be. Please tell me how the Government keeps things quiet in this scenario.

As a hunter, and a bow hunter as well? I would back off and give it some space for a few hours and then I would track it. The dart will be a bright color and it might be possible to place a AirTag or other tracking device to help locate it. In a forest environment the dart is either going to fall out. Or the creature may pull it out, or the brush and limbs may pull it out as it walks. I was a hounds-man 20 years ago. We used to track our dogs with Marshall collars and a Yaggi antenna. I bet that technology is better and smaller now. I have not kept abreast in that field and would have to research further. I think they use satellites now instead of radio telemetry. Anyhow I still say shoot the first one with a gun and be done with it. But being a member of these forums I understand that most researchers are just not willing to do that. So option B is we still need a chunk of the animal, real physical evidence. So how do we do that with minimal harm to the target species? Anyhow I am talking out loud right now. But I may buy a crossbow and start playing and testing with the idea. It doesn’t have to be the latest greatest crossbow. Just an old style recurve would be plenty powerful enough to get a one inch sample core from the creature. It reminds me of a bow hunting trip we were on in northern Washington. We never saw an Elk but we were killing Grouse for dinner with our judo points. We had this bull moose come through and we of course didn’t have a tag. It’s a once in a lifetime draw. So my buddy loads a judo point and we called it in and he smacked it right in the heart lung area. It ran off and we collected his arrow. Just an aluminum arrow with a big rubber tip. Didn’t hurt the Moose at all. But probably wouldn’t have impressed a game warden. But we basically called in and shot a bull moose. It was a sense of accomplishment. Any bow hunting is….very challenging. Anyhow it gave me the idea and so I started researching the idea and found they do use this in biology.

I gather a set-up akin to a bowfishing rig on a crossbow with low power draw and tipped bolt that has a stop, like the business end of a ski pole or somesuch. I'm sure it's doable, it's getting it into the hands of a prepared individual, in the right place, at the right time--the usual wrench in the works...

It wasn’t mean to degrade you in anyway. Your opinion is a popular one, trust me. What would it change? Much. Well for starters it would shut up all the nay sayers that make fun of the topic. It would also be a stark warning for anyone that ventures outdoors. 411 books? Don’t hike alone. Don’t wear bright colors. Etc. I also think it would be profound for humanity to suddenly realize we are not the only species in our genus. If it plays out that way. That a bipedal relative still shares the planet with us? Science would study this for the next 100 years. Official scientific recognition would also bring about profound changes in resource extraction on public lands. There would be environmental impact studies that would come about because of this discovery. A 800 lbs primate in North America would make the spotted owl pale by comparison. And the bottom line is that it would expand human knowledge. If science can miss this? What else are we missing? What’s in our oceans? Our cave systems? Under the poles? Our jungles? Maybe this discovery would light a fire in humanity’s belly to get out and explore Mother Nature. We have become a species of electronic alternative reality. And it’s not a good thing IMHO.

I love this forum... I wander in once or twice a month and check stuff... With the help of this Forum chat in 2012 I met my wife... ( The problem is not the forum but the lag of news... Even when you go to presentations on bigfoot events you will not hear anything really ground breaking... Since years they all telling the same stories over and over again...just my opinion )

What is their position of the US Forrest Service...? The short answer is this: They support things that are proven like wolves and bears. Things that are unproven are just unproven. They can't be expected to have an official position on the subject or any subject that remains unproven. For instance, I doubt they have an official position on ESP or ghosts. I say 'unproven' because that is the general consensus of science. It seems- due to the discovery of Lucy and others- science has moved from 'Bigfoot can't exist' to 'Bigfoot might exist but so far is unproven'. If I went hunting and shot Bigfoot those government forces (US Forrest and so on) would go where the facts take them. 'They' would say Bigfoot exists as soon as they saw the body. They might be a local sheriff, some DNR guy, some US Forrest guy in a fire spotting tower, and 100 reporters who happen upon the story. Someone in government making an April fool's joke about bigfoot doesn't change any position. I really don't think NORAD is trying to support or harm Christmas based on the Santa Tracker on Christmas eve. There are some on the BFF and elsewhere who see the Government as some evil all powerful conspiracy about Bigfoot and about anything else they can image. If you ask those type of people, they will attribute things to the government that take you down quite a bunny trail. This even assumes something and big as the government made up of many layers and employees are all going to move in unison under one group think direction. Not likely. Don't believe me? See how fast they are to down vote me for posting this post. Even during the moon landing times, we had different factions who argued about the very mode we would take to even get to the moon. That is a simple unified goal fully funded and yet the various opinions and growing pains were evident. Those who say the government knows all about Bigfoot being out there and, here is the key, they are keeping it hidden are ones who NEED to have this be the case. They require a certain view of Government who probably that has even more deeper intentions even beyond Bigfoot. Sorry, I can't see it that way at least as it relates to Bigfoot. The answer is Government, or the US Forrest Service probably have people who work in it that believe in Bigfoot and some that don't. Beyond that, they are concerned about Budgets, hunting season, litterbugs and Yogi bear stealing picnic baskets.

When it seems too good to be true.............. https://people.com/celebrity/bigfoot-tom-biscardis-sasquatch-hunting-company-valued-at-10b/ Biscardi, and it began with ammonia in his shoes.

Not in my book. I didn't bother to research his seven posts because it was clear from just one that he didn't have the capacity, or the intent, or both, to add value to the conversation. Interesting dichotomy. Does it have to be exclusively one or the other?

Well, speaking as someone who has never contributed, but has been reading the forum on and off for years, I used to come here when I became aware of something happening in the Bigfoot world to see what people here were saying about it. I'm not desperately seeking out Bigfoot related stuff but things like Biscardi, Ketchum and Sykes would come to my attention through other media. While those were going on I'd be a regular visitor. For the past few years, nothing like that has happened. I occasionally look here to see if there's something I have missed, but there really never is. And as far as the general media is concerned, it seems that Bigfoot might as well have ceased to exist.

Amazing, I think many people would trade their sighting just to see a Bigfoot butt crack in the hillside ecotome, lol. No seriously, the fisherman confirming the scenario would be a cool read if in the BFRO or other database? Do you recall whether the fisherman could detect gender, and are you certain that could not have been cleavage of another sort? Just funning you here of course. Thanks for the report and drawings. It is possible @joebeelart is familiar with this sighting and/or stomping grounds. Joe?

Well, from my perspective, I think it is the simple fact that there is nothing new happening in the field. There are no big events such as a major sighting caught on film or DNA evidence being reported. And when the only t.v. exposure is the ..imho...dismally overdone and woefully laughable "Expedition Bigfoot" (the twin sister of Mountain Monsters) where the principal actors are always thisclose to catching one only to have it vanish into thin air...why wouldn't the subject turn into a joke or piece of fluff entertainment? Why would people want to "waste their time"? Hell, Sasquatch is everywhere now as a pop icon from stickers to jerky to toys to tv and i think that hurt the credibility of the subject as well by making it kitschy. I listen to the B&B podcast and I think some interesting, new evidence is being readied for presentation in the comments Cliff makes about certain research. Hopefully then, new life and new blood will perk things up. When Norseman collects a body for us...then you watch how active this sight becomes.

It sounds like most of us can agree that the Bigfoot Forum is losing steam and people aren't responding as much as they did before. There are lots of old-time members that had one star or many, and they have dropped out of the Bigfoot forum. Most of us that have responded to this thread agree that this is a problem and rather than letting it fade like a setting sun where Bigfoot Forum takes a slow-motion death dive until no one else is responding that we open a new forum section. In this Reach Out section, we contact professionals in government, universities and private practice who have an interest in primates and wildlife. There are many on this forum who are still working and are responding to other forms and simply don't have the time to participate in this forum anymore. The Patterson Gimlin film came out years ago and created a huge interest in Bigfoot so the forum has been very active ever since. Now we can sit back and wait for another Bigfoot event to happen such as a capture or bringing in a body and the form may light up again. Now we can sit back and wait or we can create a plan to keep this form alive in the meantime. Now a suggestion that I have is for us to do several things that may help rejuvenate the forum. 1. If we have the emails of all forum members, we can have a committee that can recontact old members that have dropped out and invited them back on and let them know the rejuvenation plan. Do we have their emails? 2. Another thing that we can do is to lift the forum up to professional scientific level where qualified individuals post and regular forum members with three of more stars by their name. We invite professional people involved in primate studies or who work in environments where animals live such as zoos, wildlife parks, government foresters etc. This committee can email them and invite them onto the forum and post their qualifications. Now this would be a special forum section were these professionals are vetted, and we post their credentials along with their forum name. in conclusion, I'm 77 years old and retired. I have time to work on this plan. There are other retired members on the forum who have extra time and smarts to push the forum ahead. And some of us can take on various duties that involves some of the suggestions that I've come up with. Now I apologize for using my first name rather than coming up with some Bigfoot name. It's too late for me to change, but you can also think of me as George of the jungle.