In popular culture, who else has heard or knows the least about the legend of Bigfoot, the Yeti or the Loch Ness monster. But there is another very famous one, the legend of the chupacabra, which is one of those that has raised the most mysteries wherever it is told.
Many people may have heard this name, but not everyone knows what the legend of the chupacabra consists of , although the truth is that many really believe in the existence of this elusive animal.

  • You may be interested: The 14 best short legends for all ages.

What does the legend of the chupacabra say?
According to legend, the chupacabra is the nickname given to an ancient beast with stealthy movements and very difficult to see, with a special predilection for the blood of stable animals.
According to cryptozoology, a variant of zoology that is dedicated to the study of animal species whose existence has not been proven, the description of the chupacabra corresponds to that of a small animal (many agree that it is small). dimensions similar to those of a “little bear”), but with an unpleasant appearance and smell.
Both folklore and word of mouth have contributed to feeding the legend of the chupacabra, a being that, say those who have seen it, is endowed with large fangs, similar to a rodent and with reptilian features (its back would be covered with thorns). , as well as scaly-looking skin).

What is the origin of the legend of the chupacabra
Contrary to other popular myths, the legend of the chupacabra is not one of those that has lasted throughout the centuries (amen), but rather dates from relatively recently.
The legend of the chupacabra began to spread in the early 1990s, when in Puerto Rico, peasants in rural areas saw that some of their sheep had bled to death.. The animals had two holes in the neck area, which suggested that their attacker had sucked their blood. From that moment on, more farm animals appeared dead in the area: not just sheep, but pigs, goats and even horses.
Whoever was behind these killings had found in these animals their main source of food. Although at first the blame was attributed to the action of a possible satanic sect that was dedicated to performing rituals with blood, the peasants were sure that the culprit of the deaths of the cattle was something non-human.
You may be interested: 8 stories of real vampires from around the world.

    The legend of the chupacabra crosses borders
    Despite the fact that attacks began to occur in Puerto Rico, rumors about an unknown being that sucked the blood of cattle soon spread to other countries in Central and South America, such as the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Costa Rica or Peru.
    The legend of the chupacabra was even heard in the southern United States.

    Chupacabra sightings: are they true or a lie?
    Since the legend of the chupacabra became known, there are many witnesses who say they have sighted this creature. However, with the rise of the Internet (which has led to the increase in hoaxes or those known as fakes), the images and recordings in which the chupacabra has supposedly been captured, are for skeptics simply frauds that do nothing more than feed the myth
    It is not necessary to go very deep into the Great Network to, with a few clicks, find snapshots in which half-decomposed corpses of vermin can be seenthat, they assure, corroborate the veracity of the legend of the chupacabra. But since we cannot trust everything that is shown to us (and in the absence of irrefutable evidence that goes beyond conjecture based on the ugly appearance of half-rotten creatures that could well be cataloged), the existence of the chupacabra is still not possible. be tested.
    Let us also add that cryptozoology is precisely that, a science (for many, second class) that is based on stories that have been transmitted from generation to generation and that are part of the culture and traditions of the places where it is claimed to have seen to creatures like the chupacabra; in addition to recordings and images whose veracity has been questioned, testimonies of dubious credibility and little (or no) empirical evidence to prove that such beings exist.

    Science talks about the chupacabra legend
    Given the massive fever that occurred in rural areas after the legend of the chupacabra became known, the scientists in charge of analyzing the remains of animals killed by this new being concluded that there was a simpler explanation that would unravel the mistery.
    Apparently, the chupacabras, far from being some kind of spawn with features of different species, were actually coyotes affected by mange, a contagious virus that damages the skin and is produced by a mite. This disease, which many canines can contract, causes hair loss, leaving the skin uncovered, a trait that is consistent with the rodent-like appearance attributed to the chupacabra.
    In addition, scabies generates a great itching caused by the swelling that the parasite causes in the host. By scratching this compulsively and all the fur has disappeared, wounds and scabs are caused that further disfigure its appearance. Although in the domestic sphere, curing a dog with mange does not involve too many headaches, if we move to the wild nature , where there is no treatment, mange spreads easily as soon as there is contact with individuals who have it.
    However, believers in the legend of the chupacabra continue to be unconvinced by this explanation, proof of which is that the existence of this animal is a topic of conversation that is still on everyone’s lips.

    • You may be interested: The 12 creepiest urban legends and the truth in them.