While myths and legends are full of tales of monsters, few have endured over the years and taken on new momentum as the legend of the Mexican hairless dog Chupacabra, a monster that has lived through tales, drawings, and adoption in popular media through decades. While most monsters that occupy legendary tales are ancient creatures, the interesting fact about the Chupacabra is that it is very modern, having come into “existence” through reports and sightings as recently as the year 1995.
Let us take a look at the stories of the Chupacabra, the monster that has captured the imagination of horror fans all over the world.
History and Legend of El Chupacabra
The Chupacabra or El Chupacabra derives its name from a couple of Spanish words – “chupar”, which means “to suck”, and “cabra”, which means “goat”. From this, it is possible to surmise some of the basic characteristics of the creature. It is a monster that loves to suck the blood of goats and other livestock, making it similar, at least in nature, to the legendary vampire bat.
The Chupacabra is indeed a strange creature. It usually assumes a stance many have likened to the kangaroo, yet has a somewhat reptilian appearance with a spiny back and grayish or greenish scales all over its body. It’s rumored to be almost four feet tall. Other accounts describe the monster as having a dog-life or wolf-like appearance, with large fangs and claws, deep-set eyes, and completely devoid of hair.
Although the first reported sightings of the Chupacabra came in 1995, there have been reports of sightings of a similar creature going back to 1970. Two accounts sparked the legend, with the first being an incident in Puerto Rico where sheep were found dead and completely drained of blood. Later, in the town of Canovanas, an eyewitness claimed to have seen the beast in action on a farm where hundreds of animals were found dead and drained.
However, the same style of killing was first observed in the year 1995 in Moca, Puerto Rico, and was, at the time, believed to be the handiwork of a Satanic cult in the area.
Over the years, the Chupacabra has reportedly been seen in many different countries, including Mexico, Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Brazil, Peru, the United States, and even India, where its appearance was eventually debunked after scientific testing.
The Mexican Hairless Dog That Could Be a Source
An interesting theory is that the appearance of the Chupacabra resembles that of a Mexican hairless dog. The Xolo breed is considered to be significant to Mexican culture and is extremely popular as a pet. It’s a highly intelligent, durable, and social species of dog with excellent hunting capabilities.
It’s significant that the Xolo is a purebred dog, having evolved naturally without human intervention. Since it is a product of natural evolution and not human selective breeding, the breed largely stays immune from most typical health issues that affect dogs.
Another theory propounded by an American biologist surmises that the Chupacabra monsters that people actually claimed to have seen were simply dogs or coyotes infected by the mange disease, which causes their skin to blemish, lose hair, and turn wrinkly. The disease can also make them look emaciated and promote aggressive behavior.
Another source, as claimed in Tracking the Chupacabra, a 2011 book, is that the creature’s appearance seems to be particularly similar to the Sil creature portrayed in the popular 1995 sci-fi horror movie Species. The eyewitness who provided the description of the monster that led to this connection had apparently already seen the movie and might have believed that incidents in the movie were happening in reality.
Drawings and Photos of the Mysterious Cryptid
There have been quite a few eyewitness accounts of the Chupacabra, including a video recording that came to light in Puerto Rico. This video, recorded by Mundo Ovni, was apparently a first-hand account of the aftermath of a supposed Chupacabra attack.
Over the years, the creature has reached cult status and has been portrayed in different media in popular culture. Most notably, the Chupacabra has been the focus of an episode of the immensely popular television show The X Files, while also having been featured in The Venture Bros and Teen Titans Academy, a DC Comics comic book.
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Since then, the Chupacabra has appeared in TV series, anime, books, movies, and games. It’s also available in the form of toys and figurines for discerning collectors.
Monsters and urban legends often capture the fancy of people around the world and are kept alive in oral tales and legends. The Chupacabra seems firmly established in lore around the world and is set to live on in the hearts and minds of fascinated fans for many years to come.
Main image by Diego de la Rosa
Last Updated on November 21, 2022.
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