Gigantopithecus: The Largest Ape that Ever Existed | Prehistoric Humans Documentary

Peace is often fleeting in the natural world, however, and shortly after the deer begin their morning drink, they find themselves bolting back into the undergrowth to safety. A flock of birds has disturbed them from their gathering, sent soaring into the warm morning air by something huge moving through the undergrowth. Like something from a hollywood film, the bushes across the stream rattle and rustle, progressively faster, until a tall black shadow can be seen emerging from the tangle of bamboo and leaves. It’s a primate - a colossal, reddish coloured, muscular, powerful primate. As its face steadily unsheaths itself from the greenery, it looks almost human - a kind, slow expression spreads across its huge cheeks as it too, pauses to check for tigers. With none in sight, the primate - Gigantopithecus, a huge, extinct ape - can descend to the stream to drink. As a lone, adult male, this is his territory, and he will spend the morning coursing it for food and water. Although the terrified hoofed