r/TheLibrarians

...where in the world would you go?

Would you see some world landmarks like the Great Wall of China, the Eiffel Tower in France, the Great Pyramids? Or would you abscond to a tropical island to swim in the ocean? Would you whisk away to top of a mountain to see the clouds from above?

Or would you visit that far-away loved one you never seem to have the time or money to get to?

Fire up your imagination while I fire up the back door. The world is waiting. Take us on a journey, Librarians.

THE ORIGINS

Unlike ancient legends, the Chupacabra (which translates to "goat-sucker") is a modern cryptid. The myth originated in Puerto Rico in March 1995, following a sudden wave of mysterious livestock deaths where animals were discovered completely drained of blood.

The First Records: The spoken-word accounts and initial local news reports were driven heavily by an eyewitness named Madelyne Tolentino in Canóvanas, Puerto Rico. Her description of a bipedal, alien-like creature with spikes down its back was broadcast internationally, establishing the creature's core look.

The Evolution: When the myth quickly spread to Mexico and the Southwestern United States, the physical description shifted entirely from a spiked, bipedal alien to an uncharacteristic, hairless, canine-like beast.

The Reality: Biologists and wildlife officials who captured alleged physical specimens of the "canine" Chupacabra discovered that they were actually real coyotes, foxes, or feral dogs suffering from severe cases of sarcoptic mange. The parasite causes hair loss, skin thickening, and severe fatigue, explaining their bizarre appearance and why they targeted easy-to-catch livestock instead of wild prey.

In the Library: Despite the earthly explanations, our favourite cryptid seems to visit the Annex regularly, and apparently, its makes phenomenal jerky!