French Cryptozoologist Philippe Coudré Discusses Bigfoot Field Research

If you're looking for a deep dive into French cryptozoology and some genuinely chilling field stories, there's a fascinating interview floating around YouTube that you absolutely need to check out. The channel Kim'Cryptide & Mystère recently hosted Philippe Coudray, and let me tell you, this conversation is an absolute treasure trove for anyone serious about Sasquatch research. Now, if you don't know who Philippe Coudray is, you're in for a treat. This man is a living legend in the French cryptozoology scene. Born in 1960 near Bordeaux, he's spent decades in the field investigating reports of unknown hominids across North America. He's conducted more than a dozen expeditions alongside physicist Léon Brenig, and he's authored several essential books on the subject, including "Guide des animaux cachés," "Une histoire de la cryptozoologie," "Expédition Bigfoot," and his most recent release, "À l'ombre du Bigfoot," which just came out in 2025. If you read French, these should absolutely be on your bookshelf. Here's something cool that might surprise you, Coudray isn't just a researcher. He's also the creator of "Barnabé the Bear," a beloved comic book series that was distributed internationally in Germany, Japan, and even China. So we're talking about a guy with serious artistic talent who chose to dedicate a huge chunk of his life to chasing down evidence of Sasquatch. That's commitment. The interview itself is wonderfully candid. Coudray walks through how his obsession began, and it's a story many of us can probably relate to. His brother accidentally handed him a book about Yeti expeditions in the Himalayas, and that single moment pulled him down the rabbit hole. From there, he devoured the works of Bernard Heuvelmans, the Belgian zoologist often considered the father of cryptozoology, and discovered that the Yeti was just the tip of the iceberg. There were reportedly hundreds of unknown animals waiting to be documented, and the forests of North America held their own mysteries. Eventually, Coudray connected with the Belgian association led by Éric Jo, and before he knew it, he was heading out on expeditions to the United States. Their early trips took them to Texas, specifically the Sabine National Forest, which is a far cry from the dusty desert stereotypes most people associate with the state. This place is dense, old-growth forest, and it's got a long history of Sasquatch sightings. Now, here's where the interview gets really interesting. During one of those early Texas expeditions, the team got their hands on some pheromones, yes, actual pheromones, including samples from female chimpanzees, female gorillas, and even human females. They set them up around their camp on the advice of local researchers who were working with the Houston Zoo. The idea was to see if they could draw anything in. There was only one woman on the expedition, and she wisely decided to sleep in her car rather than a tent, just in case anything showed up. Smart move on her part. At around 2 AM, she was jolted awake when her car started rocking. When she opened her eyes, she saw a massive silhouette pressed up against the window. A huge head, hands cupped around its face like it was trying to block out the glare, peering in at her. It stayed there for about ten minutes. She tried to grab her camera, but her hands were shaking so badly she dropped it. Eventually, the figure moved on, and the next morning the team found flattened grass where it had been standing. That encounter alone is worth the price of admission for this video. But Coudray doesn't stop there. He goes on to discuss the broader state of Sasquatch research, the different schools of thought within the community, and why he believes a grounded, zoological approach is essential to moving the field forward. He also touches on the work of other researchers, including the late Michel Ballou and Marie-Jeanne Portmann, who investigated the Almasy in the Caucasus, another mystery hominid that deserves way more attention than it gets. If you're a researcher, a witness, or just someone who wants to hear from someone who's actually been out there doing the work, this interview is a must-watch. Coudray brings decades of experience, a refreshingly open mind, and some stories that'll stay with you long after the video ends. Head over to YouTube and search for Kim'Cryptide & Mystère to find it. Trust me, you'll want to hear this one for yourself.