Eyewitness sightings of this cryptid go back  as early as 1995 in Puerto Rico, and have since been reported as far north as Maine, and as far south as Chile, and even being spotted outside the Americas in countries like Russia and the Philippines, but many of the reports have been disregarded as uncorroborated or lacking evidence. Some sightings in northern Mexico and the southern United States have been verified  as canids  afflicted by mange. According to biologists and wildlife management officials, the chupacabra is an urban  myth.

The name ‘chupacabra’ translates literally as ‘goat sucker’ and comes from the animal’s reported predilection for attacking and drinking the blood of livestock, particularly goats. It also refers to a family of nocturnal Puerto Rican birds that steal milk from goats. Puerto Rican comedian and entrepreneur Silverio Pérez is credited with coining the term chupacabras soon after the first incidents were reported in the press.

Reputed Sightings.

• In mid-August 2006, Michelle O’Donnell of Turner, Maine, described an “evil looking” rodent-like animal with fangs that had been found dead alongside a road. The animal was apparently struck by a car, and was unidentifiable. Photographs were taken and witness reports seem to be in relative agreement that the creature was canine in appearance, but in widely published photos seemed unlike any dog or wolf in the area. Photos from other angles seem to show a chow or Akita mixed-breed dog. It was reported that “the carcass was picked clean by vultures before experts could examine it”. For years, residents of Maine have reported a mysterious creature and a string of dog maulings.

• In September 2009, CNN aired a report showing closeup video footage of an unidentified dead animal. The same CNN report stated that locals have begun speculating the possibility that this might be a chupacabra. A Blanco, Texas, taxidermist reported that he received the body from a former student whose cousin had discovered the animal in his barn, where it had succumbed to poison left out for rodents. The taxidermist expressed his belief that this is a genetically mutated coyote.

• On December 18, 2010, in Nelson County, Kentucky, Mark Cothren shot and killed an animal that he could not recognize and feared.  Many pictures of the Chupacabra were taken and the story was well documented by various news organizations. Cothren described the creature as having large ears, whiskers, a long tail, and about the size of a house cat. Cothren says he spoke with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and handed over the preserved animal for further analysis.

The above list is by no means exhaustive. There are countless other eye-witness cases.

Appearance.

The most common description of the chupacabra is that of a reptile-like creature, said to have leathery or scaly greenish-grey skin and sharp spines or quills running down its back. It is said to be approximately 3 to 4 feet (1 to 1.2 m) high, and stands and hops in a fashion similar to that of a kangaroo.^.

Another less common description of the chupacabra is of a strange breed of wild dog. This form is mostly hairless and has a pronounced spinal ridge, unusually pronounced eye sockets, fangs, and claws. Unlike conventional predators, the chupacabra is said to drain all of the animal’s blood (and sometimes organs) usually through three holes in the shape of an upside-down triangle or through one or two holes.

Several theories about the nature of chupacabras have been put forward and are as widespread as the reports of their attacks. Some believe them to be vampires, and others extra-terrestrial  life forms. Others are of the opinion that they are the creatures of a failed scientific experiment

Varginha UFO incident.

In 1996 an alleged sighting and capture of an extra-terrestrial entity by the military was broadcast on the Brazilian TV show Fantástico. The report gathered momentum and coverage of it became worldwide, even appearing as an article by the Wall Street Journal Staff Reporter Matt Moffett. The Varginha incident was considered to be the most famous case in Brazilian ufology. Over the prevailing years, however, it has been declared a hoax.

According to media reports at the time, the creature was first sighted by three females ranging from 14 to 21 years old: sisters Liliane and Valquíria Fátima Silva, and their friend Kátia Andrade Xavier. They alleged to have seen the creature on  the afternoon of January 20, 1996. Their description of the creature was that of  biped, approximately 1.6 metres (5 ft), in  height, with a large head and very thin body, with V-shaped feet, brown skin, and large red eyes. They assumed it was either injured or sick because it seemed to be wobbly or unsteady on its feet. It was alleged to have been captured later by the Brazilian army, with help form the local police, and was later autopsied at a major hospital in Varginha. It was determined to be a creature unknown to science.

Names of individuals and institutions were given to support the encounter. However, a decade and a half later, it was revealed that the entire incident was nothing more than an hysterical childish hoax involving the sighting of a deformed human, known locally as “Little Luis”  who would often haunch up in corners and  was often filthy and wet (see below right image).  It was later  learnt that the Varginha police originally believed that this was who the three girls had witnessed.

The first image in the picture is an arist’s depiction based off the girls’ testimonies. Many will have noted that the depiction bears no resemblance whatsoever to a canid. The family Canidae is divided into two tribes: the Canini (dogs, wolves, jackals, and some South American “foxes”) and the Vulpini (true foxes). Given that all ‘Chupacabra’ are described as being canid- like begs the question as to how it was given the same designation.

The alleged ET autopsy doctor, a Brazilian policeman and one of the original girl witnesses,weighed in on what really happened at Varginha.

Aurimas Svitojus, a European researcher, emailed Dr. Fortunato Badan Palhares, the alleged ET autopsy doctor concerning his involvement in the case. Below is his edited response:

“Unfortunately, all of the information about the Varginha ET involving my name, are the fruits of fantasy authors and do not deserve any respect from me because they are liars.

In some discussions I’ve had with “UFOlogists” who claim to have studied this case, nothing, absolutely nothing they brought materialized that was credible. They are conjectures, inferences, perhaps even hallucinations.

I never discuss this issue with students, but when asked in lectures I have always said that: I DID NOT AND NEVER WAS CALLED TO DO ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING WITH THIS MATTER…..”

 © David Calvert 2016

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