Possible prints found on the Pennine Way - September expedition report

Spent the last three weeks hiking sections of the Pennine Way (Yorkshire moors, mostly between Malham and Pen-y-ghent) as part of a cryptid survey. Documenting unusual animal activity, looking for prints, collecting hair samples, the usual stuff. Found something interesting that I wanted to run past the group.

On the 18th September, in a boggy area about two miles north of Malham, we found a clear impression in the mud that was absolutely massive - roughly 16 inches long, four-toed. No claw marks like you'd see on a bear. The depth of the impression suggested significant weight. We took photos, measurements, and collected some organic material from nearby vegetation.

Now, I know the UK doesn't have a 'Bigfoot' in the traditional sense, but could we have an undocumented great ape that's been missed by mainstream science? The Pennines have remote areas, plenty of forest coverage, sparse human population in some sections. It's not impossible. Would appreciate thoughts on the print itself - I can post the high-res photos if anyone wants to analyse them properly.

Two words: Red. Deer. The male print during rutting season looks absolutely enormous because of the way the soil compresses under their weight. I've seen this mistake made loads of times. Get the prints professionally analysed - your local university probably has someone in the biology department who can identify it properly. Might not be as exciting as Bigfoot, but at least you'll know.

The UK has a documented history of large unidentified primates, though most reports are quite recent (last 50 years or so). The Pennines are actually a decent habitat for something like that - plenty of food, water sources, inaccessible terrain. The print measurements are important. If it's genuinely 16 inches, that's larger than any native UK mammal we're aware of. Would definitely like to see the photos.

Escaped primates from private collections and zoos are a real thing though. There's been several documented incidents of chimps and orangutans living wild in UK forests for weeks before being recaptured. Could be something exotic that's established a small population in the Pennines. Less romantic than a species unknown to science, but more likely?

roughly 16 inches long, four-toed

Post the photos. This is exactly the kind of thing that needs proper documentation. Even if it turns out to be a known animal, having quality evidence helps build a dataset. There's actually been quite a few prints reported in the Scottish Highlands over the past decade - I've been trying to compile a map of hotspots. Your sighting could fit into a larger pattern.