INTERVIEW: Dr. Mark Evans goes searching for Yeti on new Animal Planet special

The yeti and sasquatch continue to populate legends and stories around the world. Some people are absolutely convinced of the existence of a “missing link,” a bipedal cousin of homo sapiens that lurks in wooded areas, high atop the Himalaya or deep in the swamps of the southern United States. Other people are absolutely convinced that bigfoot and the yeti are figments of the imagination; they often point to the lack of physical evidence in their debunking.

But deep down most people love hearing stories of these sightings. Is there any harm in thinking out of the box? Is there any harm in searching the big woods and the high mountains for these mythical creatures?

Dr. Mark Evans, a veterinarian and TV personality, is about to explore the yeti stories head on. As part of Animal Planet’s Monster Week programming, Evans will host Yeti or Not, which airs Sunday, May 29 at 9 p.m. On the TV special, interesting evidence is found, and several theories are put to the test.

Recently, Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Evans about the yeti, his own beliefs and exploring the wild terrain for physical evidence. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.

What will viewers learn from the new TV special, Yeti or Not?

They will hear a completely new and massively thought-provoking explanation for the Yeti legend. It will leave viewers thinking very differently, not just about Yetis but also about themselves.

Do you personally believe in the yeti?

Yes. I believe in the Yeti legend, and I think I now have a surprising but scientific and highly plausible explanation for it. Do I believe they are still out there? In a way, I think they are. If you watch the special, you will see what I mean.

A common critique of the yeti / sasquatch theories is that no full specimen has ever been found. In your explorations, do you have an answer as to why this is the case?

It’s a fair criticism, of course. My aim is simply to use 21st-century science to try to unravel and explain the Yeti legend. Finding biological specimens to test is incredibly hard, but they are out there. In the ancient Kingdom of Lo, I met an herbal doctor, an Amchi, who let me have a tiny piece of a surprising specimen he found in a cave in Tibet. And we do scientific tests on it.

How do you bring your background as a veterinarian to these interesting TV adventures?

As a veterinarian, I am inherently curious about zoology. I like solving biological questions, and they don’t come more fascinating than the Yeti conundrum. I think it’s an advantage that I am a practical scientist and not a specialist in cryptozoology, or DNA or anthropology. It allows me to understand the science and to challenge the experts in an informed and, hopefully, intelligent way.

How crucial is it to have DNA / scientific evidence to prove / disprove these theories? It would seem that eyewitness accounts can only take skeptics so far.

For me, scientific evidence is absolutely essential, of course, but I have really enjoyed meeting and talking to people from around the world who are passionate Bigfoot believers. When I have tested their samples and the results aren’t what they want, they are very upset. But, as I always say to them: ‘The test result doesn’t mean Bigfoot doesn’t exist. You just need to get me better samples!’

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

Yeti or Not, a special program for Monster Week, premieres on Animal Planet Sunday, May 29 at 9 p.m. Click here for more information on the TV special. Click here for more information on Dr. Mark Evans.