This story at one time was overgrown with a multitude of tales and conjectures. Moreover, now it is already difficult to distinguish where is the truth in this eerie story, and where is fiction. Therefore, we will tell it as we heard it. We hope that some of the locals will be able to add to the story about the mysterious beast Subel
We also note that we have heard the story of the “secret of the Eastern Sayan Mountains” many times and from different sources. This suggests that some rational grain is still present in history.
Probably, many who have traveled through the taiga can talk about strange things happening in the forest. These are incomprehensible sounds, and visions, and even mirages. Often all this is just imagined by tired tourists. The howling of the wind and the creak of trees, the murmur of streams, swaying branches and the silhouettes of fantastically broken stumps can really scare anyone. Especially those who visit the forest only on raids. However, people who constantly go to the taiga to fish, such "forest horror stories" cause only a smile.
His name was Subel …
But in the 40s of the XX century, in several remote villages of the Zakamensk district, something happened that really scared many experienced fishermen. An incomprehensible animal has wound up in the taiga. It was called differently. However, in conversations about a mysterious animal, the strange word "subel" often flashed. And we decided to call it the same.
In general, for the first time, the existence of a mysterious beast became known back in the 20s. At least that's what the local old-timers assured us. Then Subel disappeared. Perhaps he was scared of something and moved into the mountain spurs.
He reappeared after the Second World War. The reason for its appearance could be that during the years of the Great Patriotic War, most of the hunters went to the front, and there was practically no hunting in those parts. As a result, the animals lost their caution and more and more often went out to crowded places. Including a mysterious beast.
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Not a wolf or a bear
People who saw him described the appearance of Subel as follows: a large shaggy creature of gray color, which makes him look like a huge wolf. But Subel could move not only with the usual wolf "trot". The animal was able to get up and even walk (!) On its hind legs. This is a very interesting point, which we will return to later.
At the same time, the beast deftly wielded its front paws, to the extent that it easily lifted stones and tree trunks. In this subel looks like a bear. However, all those with whom we talked about the mystery of the Sayan Mountains, unanimously assured that Subel is not a clubfoot. And it is difficult to doubt their words - after all, this is said by the fishermen who have spent their whole lives in the taiga. And they distinguish a bear from a wolf not only in size. There is another strange moment in this story.
- Subel looks more like not even a wolf and a bear, but a man. It is a tall, sturdy creature with a sharp "human" skull. He does not have the usual elongated muzzle of an animal. Rather, it is not even a muzzle, but a "face". But this is clearly not a man - the beast is covered with thick gray hair, - said the old hunters.
Evil in the dark
Another characteristic feature of the mysterious beast is its extreme intolerance towards humans, turning into aggression.
“Subel doesn't like people,” the hunters told us.
The beast often attacked a person when the opportunity offered. This happened in the distant post-war years, after which the hunters began to be afraid to go to the forest. It is interesting that the animal was well aware that an open attack on hunters is fraught with it. Therefore, Subel chose a different tactic.
“He usually only attacked from ambush and at night. At the same time, he waited for a long time for the people who stopped in the forest to fall asleep. When, finally, this moment came, the beast first threw logs and stones on people, and then threw itself on the helpless and crippled, the hunters argued.
Unlike other animals, the subel was not afraid of light and could easily attack even with a burning fire. This is another feature of the mysterious beast.
- In the 40s, people began to disappear in the Zakamensk taiga. Their remains were found under logs and stones. According to the examination, people were killed by a wild beast. And, what is remarkable, the animal did not eat people, as if its main task was to destroy a person, - told us Radna Tsyrenov (now deceased), who was a district policeman in the Zakamensk region in those years.
The official version of the incident was considered a bear attack. But people stubbornly whispered that the death of the hunters was connected with Subel. They didn't believe in a bear. By the way, then local fishermen developed a strict rule: when going to bed by the fire, people could not be placed next to each other. Indeed, in this case, the beast could easily crush the sleeping hunters with one log. Therefore, people were located on opposite sides of the fire. It was believed that this would stop Subel. Like, the beast will see that it will not be possible to cope with the hunters in one fell swoop, and will leave.
“To calm the people down, the police, together with experienced hunters, combed part of the taiga. However, we never saw Subel. But after this raid, the attacks stopped, - recalled the district police officer Tsyrenov.
Perhaps the beast, frightened by the large number of armed people who appeared in the taiga, went somewhere in the impassable jungle. Another evidence of the existence of the beast was the story of the Zakamensk hunter, which we heard in the 90s.
- While hunting in the area of the headwaters of the Snezhnaya River, we noticed a strange animal. He looked like a gray bear, but for some reason he moved in a very strange way. I would even say humanly, - the hunter told us.
Although he immediately noted that the beast could be a crippled clubfoot. The hunters then did not shoot at the animal.
Snowman
So what kind of beast lived and, possibly, lives in the Eastern Sayan Mountains? An unusually large wolf? A bear with a peculiar shade of fur? This is still unknown. But there is another hypothesis, which was considered by the media at one time. This is the Bigfoot version. Now it has somehow been forgotten that in the 90s many, including in Buryatia, were enthusiastically engaged in searches for a relict hominid, or otherwise Bigfoot. One of the republic's media outlets even organized an expedition to find the hominid.
Let us briefly recall who the Bigfoot is (aka Yeti, Bigfoot, etc.). Although scientists are skeptical about its existence, there is ample evidence that a strange humanoid animal - a relict hominid - can live in the remote taiga and mountains. He is distinguished by his tall stature, a dense and muscular physique, a pointed skull, long arms, and a short neck.
Can move very quickly on both four and two limbs. If necessary, "works" with the upper paws, as with hands. The creature is covered with dense hair of black, red or gray (!) Color.
Isn't it very similar to the description of Subel? According to enthusiasts, the legendary humanoid creature is found in various highland or forest areas. It is believed that this is a relict hominid, that is, a mammal belonging to the order of primates and the human race, which has survived to this day from prehistoric times. He even has an official name - Homo troglodytes (caveman).
So maybe Subel, who lived in the Eastern Sayan Mountains, is the legendary Bigfoot? There is no evidence of this yet. There are only stories from old hunters. But they were based on something? In addition, people talked about Subela even when the concept of "relict hominid" was not … In a word, this mystery still deserves special investigation.
And the last thing. Several years ago, the author of these lines had to communicate with a hunter from Baikalsk. The fisherman was frightened by a strange meeting while hunting. In the deep taiga, he suddenly met a mysterious animal - large, gray and walking on its hind legs. When meeting with the fisherman, the animal showed aggressiveness - it growled and tried to throw itself. He was scared away only by a shot in the air …