Barking Up The Wrong Tree

Throughout Sept 1, Sky News aired film of the skeletal remains of a creature that had come to be identified by the inhabitants of Malpaisillo (Leon), Nicaragua with the famed and feared Chupacabras.

Cattle dealer Jose Luis Talavera, the man taking credit for having originally shot this beast on his farm over six weeks ago, received support from neighbors who all insisted this mysterious animal had been responsible for the deaths of at least 120 ewes, by attacking and sucking the very blood from their bodies. What's more the creature's teeth were pink and therefore it could not have been a dog, they claimed.

However, in today's La Prensa (The Press), journalists Juan Rodriguez and Clarisa Altamirano reported that the sensational find had already been examined in greater detail by scientists at the Independent University National of Nicaragua-Leon (UNAN-Leon), and their conclusion was that the skeleton represented nothing unusual. It was after all, they said, the remains of a dog.

A Real Live 'Dead' Chupacabras In Nicaragua?

The goat sucker, or Chupacabras, may have just leapt from the pages of South and Central American folklore and legend into the glare of a biology lab's lights, after decomposed remains of a strange creature were recovered from a Nicaraguan farmer's land. The following translated report from the newspaper El Nuevo Diario, of August 30, was made available by researcher Scott Corrales, Institute of Hispanic Ufology, with additional acknowledgment to Gloria Coluchi.

This is the skeleton of the strange specimen dubbed "Chupacabras" which kicked off its massive sheep-slaying spree a month and a half ago. The animals turned up dead, according to local residents, due to the exsanguination caused by the perpetrator's long fangs, employed in perforating the victim's necks. (photo: Xavier Garcia)

Intense persecution of a strange entity engaged in the systematic extermination of sheep in the town of Tolapa appears to have come to a close after one of the residents managed to inflict a fatal wound on the animal commonly known as "Chupacabras."

A month and a half ago, the community embarked upon an odyssey involving massive sheep deaths resulting from the apparent extraction of blood by an unknown predator endowed with sizeable fangs capable of drilling into its victim's necks.

The presence of this being, characterized as being bold, dog-like and capable of making rapid movements, conducted its final attacks on the San Lorenzo farm, forcing the estate's owner, Jorge Luis Talavera, to initiate a hunt that would terminate the "Chupacabras"'s existence.

"It came in search of another sheep on Friday and I became aware of its presence in the paddocks. [I fired] several shots with my shotgun until [the creature] lost itself in the darkness," explained Jorge Luis, who claimed having injured the creature a week ago, judging by the blood trail found on his farm. He was unable to locate the body.

On Monday morning, the presence of circling vultures heralded the existence of a dead animal in the farm's vicinity, which roused the curiosity of watchman Jairo Garcia. Garcia headed toward where the carrion birds circled and managed to reach a cave-like structure located a hundred meters from the house: there he found the animal his employer had shot at two nights earlier and which was probably responsible for the deaths of so many sheep.

A Rare Species
Speculation regarding the sheep mutilator's appearance has been rife, with most locals agreeing that it is a strange kind of dog which feeds on blood.

After having found the alleged "Chupacabras", some locals, like Mr. Milan Rojas, claim that it is neither a dog nor a wolf, but rather the strange product of a combination of various dog types. "I am familiar with all types of wild animal and this one seems strange to me, given its bare, long and thin tail, which differs greatly from that of a wolf, which is quite hairy," he explained.

Zootechnician Giocconda Chevez, who reached the site to learn more about the discovery, noted that the animal had extremely high nails located above its claws which possibly aided it in attacking its victims, along with the oversized set of fangs.

She further notes that its eye-sockets are somewhat large in comparison with its head, making note--as did other visitors to the site--of several protuberances in the upper vertebrae "shaped like a crocodile's crest".

What Don Jairo found most startling was the lack of bodily hair and very small ears. Although the animal has been reduced to a skeleton after the vultures feasted upon it, it is shaped like a long, yellow-colored dog, given the pigmentation which can still be seen on part of its tail. Nonetheless, curiosity-seekers have indicated that its resembles no known specimen.

The Locals Lower Their Guard
People arrived by the dozens to learn more about the source of the area's panic, but as Giocconda Chevez noted, most people are interested in making sure that the so-called "Chupacabras" is dead.

Among the visitors to the San Lorenzo farm were the social workers of the Xochith Acatl Women's Center, an NGO which promotes sheep farming among women farmers, who were also affected by the Chupacabras's exploits.

In the community of San Claudio, located some 25 kilometers from Malpaisllo, the animal in question made free with two of the four sheep belonging to Mrs. Ludia Carrera, one of the parties of "Xochith Acatl". However, according to the social workers' own accounts, after learning that the alleged sheep slayer is finally dead, the population feels more at ease. "I was concerned, because I own goats and cows and at any given moment, [the creature] could turn up and kill my little animals. I hope it is the last and only one of its kind prowling this area, " stated Maria Isabel Lopez, of the town of Las Lomas.

The police and the municipal supervisor also visited the farm to verify the discovery.

Studies To Determine Species Will Be Performed
Jorge Luis Talavera, owner of the San Lorenzo farm, was responsible for bringing the Chupacabras's killing spree to an end. The carcass of this strange entity had to be removed from a cave in order that this newspaper's readers would be able to see it (photo: Xavier Castro). The skeleton and part of the animal's remains, according to Jorge Luis, shall be delivered to the Department of Biology of the UNAN (National University of Nicaragua) at Leon to undergo the corresponding specialized studies.

Biologist Pedrarias Davila indicated his willingness to carry out the corresponding analysis of the bone structure, since it is one of the most important parts employed in determining the type of species in question, along with its dentition, its skull and the shape of its claws. "Within a week we shall be able to determine if it is a domestic species or a new species not native to the country," claimed the expert.

Although there is still no scientific proof regarding the existence of an abnormal entity in the lands surrounding Malpaisillo, the public has combined myth and reality to explain the deaths of over 100 sheep through strange perforations on their necks as attributabtle to the Chupacabras--whose life of crime apparently came to an end with six bullets encrusted in its strange body.

On August 31, the Nicaraguan newspaper La Prensa carried some additional brief news information regarding the Chupacabras remains. In a [translated via Altavista] report by Maricely Linarte and Clarisa Altamiro, we were informed that biology lab staff at the Medical Campus of UNAN, in Leon, had already begun to examine the creature in order to compile a database of information.

Among other things they noted the characteristics of its skeletal system, number of vertebrae and ribs, nails, decomposition state, while samples of tissue etc., would likely be subjected to DNA testing at some later stage.

Biologist Pedrarias Dávila explained that in the meantime, several teams of specialist biologists will seek to preserve the incomplete remains and attempt to establish what species the creature actually belongs to. Cryptozoologists, especially, will be looking on with interest. G¬