NEW DELHI, June 9 (Reuters) - After North America's "Bigfoot" and the Yeti of Nepal and Tibet, India is now claiming its own mystery monster, which tour operators say will help boost tourism in the country's remote northeast.

The "eight-foot", hairy ape-like creature is believed to be stomping around in the deep, thick forests of Meghalaya state.

"Since 1997, we have been documenting Mande Burung sightings and telltale signs such as giant footprints," Dipu N. Marak of A'chik Tourism Society, an adventure tourism group, told the Hindustan Times.

"Mande Burung", the beast's local name, is all set to become the mascot for a sprawling 800 sq km (308 sq mile) biosphere reserve where the group is planning "Chase-the-Monster" tours through rainforests, waterfalls and stalactite caves.

"They are doing a good job. We support them," said state tourism official K.M. Momin.

The monster hunt has led to the discovery of caves and waterfalls such as the 1,085-metre (3,560-ft) high "Staircase Falls", and the Kekengkhol stalactite-stalagmite caves which could be the longest in South Asia, a tour operator said.

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