Haemovore The Haemovores , or Homo haemovorax , were a species of vampire - like creatures that served Fenric , existing as a possible future of humanity half a million years in the future , mutated by the chemical slime of a polluted Earth . Their time stream was accessible to time travellers . ( PROSE : " Goth Opera " ) Biology . Haemovores were a species of vampire - like humanoids who evolved from humans . They fed on the blood of humans , though they could also survive in sea water , which had a similar salt content . The Haemovores had enormous strength and power , and could climb sheer surfaces with ease . They were resistant to bullets , and could only be killed by a stake to the heart . Also , Haemovores had razor - sharp claws , which they used to kill people . Haemovores could even weld metal with their hands , and older Haemovores built up armour made of metal they collected and melted together . The Haemovores could be stopped with a psychic barrier , which in humans was created by the mental processes associated with strong faith ; the Doctor could create this barrier at will . In the presence of the barrier , the Haemovores often responded with ear - splitting shrieks . Haemovores were known to only hunt in the fog or mist . The Haemovores communicated with each other telepathically . This could be detected by telepathic humans . They could also telepathically control humans , making them easier to feed on . They were all controlled by Ingiger , who could kill them with a thought . ( PROSE : " The Curse of Fenric " ) Life cycle . The Haemovores started life as human s , who were changed by other Haemovores . At first , the only signs of change were pale skin , large red lips and sharp claws . They still had their minds and memories , but a more feral mindset . As they aged , their appearance started to change : Their skin grew slimy and wrinkled , their eyes were swollen shut and their mouths turned into suckers for feeding . After a century , they were completely transformed into Haemovores . After being killed , they would rapidly decay into charred bones and slime . ( PROSE : " The Curse of Fenric " ) History . The Haemovores evolved on Earth circa 500 , 000 AD , after the planet was ruined by industrial waste . They lived under the chemical swamps , in the saline solution of the ocean , consuming plankton and sometimes ganging up on a great whale to feast . ( PROSE : " Goth Opera " ) The last Haemovore was Ingiger , who believed himself the last living creature on Earth . Fenric brought Ingiger back in time to Transylvania some time after the 10th century , where he fed on the Viking s who had taken the flask containing Fenric . He and the Haemovores followed them , and after they were killed by the pirate Hemming , followed him to Maiden ' s Bay . Though Hemming and all his men were killed by the Haemovores , Hemming had buried the flask beneath St . Jude ' s Church where they could not get it . Instead , the Haemovores were forced to wait . In the mid 19th century , a girl was fed on by the Haemovores of Maiden ' s Point . This story would be told to Bram Stoker . It would be part of the inspiration of the story of " Dracula " . In 1943 , a squadron of Soviet soldiers were sent into Nazi - controlled Romania . All but one man was killed by Haemovores , though he was mentally scarred by the experience . Captain Sorin and Sergeant Trofimov were sent in with a rescue team , though they were only able to find the one survivor . ( PROSE : " The Curse of Fenric " ) Six months later , the Haemovores in Maiden ' s Bay were awoken by Fenric to attack the Soviet and British soldiers as part of a trap to defeat the Seventh Doctor . Once they had served their purpose in this plan , Fenric ordered Ingiger to kill the Haemovores with a thought . Using the poisons made by the nearby base , Fenric intended to pollute the world , causing the future that created the Haemovores . The Doctor was able to convince Ingiger to betray Fenric ; the Ancient One killed both itself and Fenric by going into the isolation chamber with Fenric and releasing a poison . This prevented the Haemovore ' s formation . ( TV : " The Curse of Fenric " ) The Haemovores made a lasting impression on the Doctor and Ace , as they would recall them in later travels . ( PROSE : " " , " " ) Behind the Scenes . The creation of the Haemovores appeared to be a predestination paradox , Ingiger releasing a poison on Earth that would lead to the Haemovore in the future , where he will be the last living thing on Earth before being drawn back in time to release the poison . So after the Doctor ' s defeat of Fenric , this future may not have been definite . However , the novel " Goth Opera " has since established that this is only a possible future .