EL Chupacabra Robert Ussery

Robert Ussery

C00500462

### **Summary**

Today in my Cryptid Wiki entry, i'll be discussing the origins of sightings and general lore of the famous Chupacabra, a fanged beast that's been sighted all over central America, southern United Staes, as well as being heavily reported in Puerto Rico. Various reports from academic studies at accredited and prestigious American universities have proven that it often coyotes with severe cases of Mange, a fatal skin disease. This will usually result in the disfigured scally near, death gray silhouette; many reported being the Chupacabra. I will also explain how these circumstances make sense being coyotes around livestock in their native ranges. That's why it's common to hear these similar stories stem from a barn farm or ranch-like residence. The sightings of the Chupbarbra go back to 1995, predominantly being reported in Puerto Rico, then eventually spreading to Central America and the southern United States. The Chupacabra is essentially a vampire-like creature sucking blood, tormenting livestock, and decimating farms.

### **Brief History**

Chupabacra directly translates to “Goat Sucker” in Spanish and somewhat sums up the number one reported offense with the creature. That is a ravenous blood-sucking rampage, often going through dozens of chicks and smaller livestock. In various depictions of the beast, it's expected to be a fanged beast with large canines protruding from its mouth. Some people have reported more amphibian-like characteristics where the norm tends to be more that of a wolf-like beast. It was first reported in 1975 that livestock animals were killed in their masses, leaving small incisions in the throats of the animal, eventually bleeding them dry and dying. These are consistent with the same patterns that a coyote would leave and are incredibly similar in mannerisms killing right below the throat. It was said that up to 150 animals were killed in the livestock raid in 1975. The first official report of the chupacabra was in 1995, when eight sheep were murdered in the night. Following these claims, the Chupacabra reports have been streaming, commonly dealing with farm animals.

### **Legends**

For example, the eyewitness account on NPR of a woman claiming to have seen a chupacabra is identical to a coyote with a severe case of mange. The following article of text was pulled to demonstrate the coyote-diseased appearance in relation to the Chupacabra. "In almost all these cases, the monsters have turned out to be coyotes suffering from very severe cases of mange, a painful, potentially fatal skin disease that can cause the animals' hair to fall out and skin to shrivel, among other symptoms. (Related: "'Balding' Bears: Mangy Mystery in Florida.")" In Riverside County woman reported a very similar-looking beast eating fruit from a tree out in front of her home. This article also concludes that it was likely to be a managed coyote. There are standard strings linking all these accounts of so-called Chupabcabras. Something tying them all together is this livestock angle. Where a beast perpetually raids livestock. Something Coyotates in this range do and is extremely common. Some accounts I've read also speculate that the animal they believe to be a chupacabra could be a hybrid between a Coyoate and a Wolf.

### **Adaptations**

Adaptations of the animal vary. The majority concluded it to be a vampire wolf, not precisely a Where Wolf but something different. A bloodsucker. Others say that the beast is more alien-like with reptile features. The chupacabra, either version of the primary two, the reptile and more dog-like, are said to have been a similar length at around 3 to 4 feet. The animals have been reported in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and the United States; in some cases, there are slight distinguishes but common themes in the appearance and vicious acts performed by the dog-like creature. In all cases, the broken skin is a common linking entity and dog-like or reptile. The skin quality is always reported to be very poor, often also having to perfuse fumes or sent associated with it.  This also would make sense if it were a highly managed and degraded Coyote.

### **Analysis**

For the most part, adaptations of the animal occur when similar circumstances align, and there is a sighting of a small animal leaving the scene. The significant distinctions in accounts and transformations come from the dog-like variant and the more reptilian versions. There were also reportedly separate adaptions found in India of a similar beast our looking for blood in the form of livestock. There are also adaptations of a more bear-like beast in the southern United States, but their claims seem relatively unrelated besides a few similar likenesses in appearance and prey. So it most cases the adaptions aren't directly linked to the Chupacabra but we can infer some crossover from reports.

### **Bibliography**

https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/asset-external/el-chupacabra-the-science-behind-a-latin-american-mystery/

https://u.osu.edu/vanzandt/2018/03/08/el-chupacabra/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVPcBvZnfzo

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/101028-chupacabra-evolution-halloween-science-monsters-chupacabras-picture