INTRO:

Hello and welcome to Myth Monsters, my name is Erin and I’ll be your host for these little snack bite size podcasts on folklore and mythical monsters from around the world. 

These podcasts focus on the actual cryptids, folklore and mythic monsters from global mythology, rather than focusing on full stories of heroes and their big adventures.

I’ll also be dropping in some references that they have to recent culture and where you can see these represented in modern day content so you can learn more, and get as obsessed as I am about these absolute legends of the mythological world.

This week we’re heading back to South America for the first time in ages! About bloody time, I hear you say. I know, I know - but I have so many suggestions that it’s tricky to cover them all!

DESCRIPTION:

We’re looking at the terrifying Chupacabra this week, which is very much considered a legendary cryptid of South America. This creature is one of the most well known cryptids in the world, whenever I talk about the podcast in the real world, people do always ask me if I’ve covered them yet - and my answer is now yes, yes I have.

The Chupacabra is most commonly described as basically a weird-looking hairless dog. It has long spikes coming out of its spine, kind of like a stegosaurus, massive claws and teeth and overly pronounced, bright red eyeballs - like a big ol’ fish. I know what you’re thinking, kinda sounds like a weird mix between a dog and a lizard - and you’re kind of right. Sometimes they are described as a dog-reptile hybrid, as they look quite scaly and gross like a lil lizard, but gross. 

The other description is that of almost a dragon-alien hybrid, standing at three or four foot tall, with leathery scales and wings, and massive glowing red eyes. Very much reptilian in appearance, but the way it gets around is hopping like a kangaroo. In fact, one person apparently saw one jump 20 foot, so a pretty big jump. 

There are technically three different types of Chupacabra based on where they’re from. These monsters are mostly found in the Americas, specifically from Puerto Rico, Canada and New Orleans in the States. Depending on where you are, they’re called different things - however, they’re mostly named after the place, so it’s the Canadian Chupacabra or Puerto Rican Chupacabra but the fun one is the American one, which is called Grunch, which I love by the way. I’m also imagining them all in stereotypical outfits of where they’re from - I hope that’s the thing that really identifies them. Sheriff, I saw a Canadian Chupacabra, oh boy, how do you know? Well it was in a Mounties outfit.

It’s said when approaching these creatures, you’ll smell them before you see them - they apparently stink of sulfur, or like rotten eggs. Then they’ll scream and hiss at you, before their eyes glow a bright red, and that apparently makes you throw your guts up. I realise that as a myth monsters podcast, that statement might be taken literally, I mean you’ll vom, chunder or be sick all over yourself, not actually launch your organs across the veranda. 

Although, speaking of that. They are a fan of organs, but more importantly, blood. They are vampiric based creatures, yes another one I hear you say, but honestly, there are bloody loads of them, not just vampires I’m afraid. Although, positive for us, they tend to only go for livestock and pets - so keep your cats indoors and your chickens in their coops. Apparently, it makes a really gross sound when it is sucking the life out of these creatures, but I don’t have an example. I could suck some milkshake through a straw for emphasis, but I know some people are averse to eating and drinking noises, so I’ll spare you. I won’t spare you from future tambourine performances though I’m afraid.

ORIGIN:

Now my favourite, onto etymology! The word Chupacabra, if you didn’t guess is Spanish - the word comes from two words, chupar, meaning to suck, and cabras meaning goats. Legit means goat sucker, which I think is a great nickname for someone you don’t particularly like. Fun fact that this name was made up on air back in 1995 when a comedian on the radio was talking about an attack in San Jose - so that’s fun.

It was first notably seen in 1995 in Puerto Rico, however, they have been seen all over the place since, such as Canada, Mexico, Paraguay and southern US states. However, the first sighting was possibly the most famous.

Back in ‘95, real good year because ya gal came into existence - eight sheep were found completely drained of all their blood. They had three identical puncture marks in their chests, but they thought it was a fox. However, there had been a whole load of similar attacks in the past 20 years with increasing regularity. An eyewitness was found, and her name was Madelyne Tolentino - she described the monster and so became the most famous picture of the Chupacabra that still exists - it’s that of the second description, very much an alien-reptilian creature, you can look this one up, it’s infamous with cryptids and monster fans around the world!

There were a load of sightings within ‘95, with one group of 30 people saw a huge swarm of Chupacabras flying overhead. Then in November, across Puerto Rico, farmers awoke to find all of their cattle, poultry and pets completely drained with just the puncture holes for evidence of their deaths. 

By the end of the year, Chupacabras had been blamed for the deaths of over 1,000 farm animals and pets and people were actually pretty shaken up, as they should be. Noone could figure out what these creatures were, and by the early 1997, they had entered into the cryptid hall of fame. 

Back to our kind of time though, in 2010, they found and caught a supposed Chupacabra in Texas, however, when they took it to the vet, they found that actually it was a coyote, which had horrific mange and parasites, which are incredibly contagious, especially in domesticated animals. I generally wouldn’t look up pictures of these poor dogs, they look so emancipated and sick, it’s really horrible. 

However, it makes sense as to how this legend could spread, as this could spread so quickly across the wild dog and coyote population, which is vast in areas spotted. Then if they also have livestock, which dogs generally chase - it makes sense that they have a bite wound. However, it doesn’t explain the blood draining, so there is definitely room for speculation there.

So why has the Chupacabra legend stuck around? It’s been a while since ‘95, trust me, I know. 

So there was a thing called the "chupacabra hysteria", which was another name for a political crisis, back in the mid-1990s. This is because Puerto Rico felt that they were being exploited by Americans, who if you don’t know geography, own Puerto Rico - it is an island in the Caribbean. There was a massive anti-U.S. feeling throughout the island, and the US government had a secret scientific base in the rainforest. Some locals believe that the US scientists created the Chupacabra in a lab, and allowed it to escape to assert dominance over the local populace.

It’s an interesting story, not sure if it’s true, but it’s a really cool political and historical tid-bit behind a monster that is so legendary.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE: 

Onto cultural significance this week - it’s an easy one for media, just not so easy for art - I would generally do my usual for cryptids and suggest that you have a look at independent artwork on deviant art, or wherever you get your art from, as this is a little different from a mythical beast where there are portraits or paintings of it. 

For movies, there are a couple and some of them are really fun, such as Hotel Transylvania 3, Scooby Doo, Land of the Lost, Chupacabra Territory, Chupacabra Vs The Alamo, Chupacabra: Dark Seas and they were the inspiration behind the movie Species.

For TV, a lot of kids stuff, but also some weird picks in here; like South Park, X-Files, Grimm, Jackie Chan Adventures, Ben 10, Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, Dexter’s Laboratory and Mountain Monsters, which we’ve mentioned a couple of times before on the podcast. 

Bit lacking for video games this week I’m afraid, but you do have Scribblenauts Unlimited, and as always with our legendary monsters, Magic the Gathering, which isn’t a video game, but it’s a game so it counts okay? 

My book recommendation this week is Cryptozoology A to Z by Loren Coleman, which is an A-Z of cryptid creatures, so if you’re into finding out more about Chupacabra, Mothman or Bigfoot - that’s your encyclopedia on how to get started. Or for the slightly more fun, you’ve got Adventures in Cryptozoology by Richard Freeman, which is a really fun read.

DO I THINK THEY EXISTED? 

Now it’s time for, do I think they existed? Now I’m sure some people are really behind this one being real, just like Mothman. But I really do think this is an animal that has been mistaken for a Chupacabra - only because, if you look at pictures of supposed Chupacabras, they look very similar to coyotes or wild doggies. Now obviously this is not confirmed, but they just look like really skinny doggies to me - just saying. 

Although, saying this - the mange and parasites eating them alive and making them look gross is understandable. However, what’s not understandable is how the livestock all had their blood completely drained. We all know that not many creatures in the wild will do this without a) being really small like a mosquito or bat or b) eating the rest of the animal and not just drinking them. So it’s an interesting one to ponder, according to a couple of my sources, there’s an estimated growing population of Chupacabras in the wild that apparently, we’re completely unaware of. But I guess we will see - again, I’m very glad I live across the pond in moments like these.

OUTRO: 

The Chupacabra is such a fun one, and I know it was anticipated for a little while on the podcast so I’m glad we had a chance to cover it, especially during the spooky time of the year! It seems we have a vampiric theme going on this month, I feel bummed that I scheduled the Bennu for last week and not some other blood-sucking monster, but I guess it was a nice break.

Next week, it’s Halloween! My favourite time of the year - so I’m going to be doing a spooky special on one of the most famous myth monsters of all time, the vampire! This will be a bit longer than usual, as there is so much to cover - but it’s a Halloween special so it’s gonna be fun and I might even throw in a little interactive trivia for you, who knows? I vant to suck your blood, next Thursday, just before the scariest day of the year!

For now, thank you so much for listening, it’s been an absolute pleasure. If you enjoyed this podcast, please give it a rating on the service you’re listening on - I’ve got the twitter for any questions, or suggestions on what monsters to cover next and I’d love to hear from you. The social media handles for Tiktok and Instagram are mythmonsterspodcast, and twitter is mythmonsterspod. But all of our content can be found at mythmonsters.co.uk - you can also find us on Goodpods and Patreon if you want to help me fund the podcast, ya know if you feel like it.

Come join the fun and share this with your pals, they might love me as much as you do.

But for now, stay spooky and I’ll see you later babes.