Theories regarding the legend of "El Chupacabra" were reignited recently when the City of Amarillo captured a mysterious trail camera image near the Amarillo Zoo. The camera was hung inside the perimeter fence, and the strange shot was taken around 1:25 a.m. on May 21, according to the time stamp on the photo. In the image is a strange-looking creature that appears to be walking upright on two legs on the other side of the fence. The photo prompted the city release the image on their website and social media channels along with a request to the public on identifying whatever "it" is in the photo.
"We just want to let the Amarillo community have some fun with this," Michael Kashuba, the city's Director of Parks and Recreation said in a press release. "It is important to note this entity was outside the Amarillo Zoo. There were no signs of attempted entry into the zoo. No animals or individuals were harmed. There were no signs of criminal activity or vandalism."
The image quickly went viral, spreading far and wide on the internet as people speculated all sorts of explanations for the image. Many were joking in nature, but a small segment of the online commenters seems to have latched onto the picture as an example of the legendary creature "El Chupacabra," (Spanish for "Goatsucker.")
The Goatsucker is a legendary cryptid that was allegedly first sighted in Puerto Rico in 1995. It was described as a four-foot-tall upright creature walking on two legs. According to legend, the Chupacabra was responsible for the killing of many pets and livestock in Puerto Rico.
The story quickly spread to parts of Florida, Texas, Mexico, and parts of Central America. Scientists have dismissed the legend as nothing more than a hoax, or more likely misidentifications of known animals. At one point, the legend's description shifted to take on a more dog-like appearance. After that happened, several alleged bodies surfaced that were later tested and shown to be either dogs or coyotes with mange.
Whatever the image is, it's certainly creepy and definitely weird. Without additional images, it's hard to say for sure just what is pictured here. For more information on the Chupacabra, be sure to read our in-depth exploration on the legend.
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