The Popo Bawa, a Lustful Bat-Like Ogre.

(reuters). The Popo Bawa, a Lustful Bat-Like Ogre.

The Popo Bawa is "a bat-like ogre said to prey on men, women and children. ... for superstitious Zanzibaris a visit from the sodomising gremlin is no joke. Although no one ever has seen it, belief in the monster and his unnatural lust is so strong that entire villages will sleep out of doors for protection: Popo Bawa (Swahili for Bat's Wing) prefers to attack behind closed doors at night. In huts set amid rustling groves of jackfruit and mangoes on Zanzibar's Pemba island, victims told Reuters in interviews that they detected a bad smell, became cold and went into a trance in the moments before they felt the creature's inhuman strength. Some attacks were heralded by the sound of giant wings and claws rattling and scraping on huts' tin roofs. Others cringed in terror at what sounded like a car engine ticking over."

The bat-like part makes me think of the Mothman. Could the two be related? What foul beasts dwell unseen in Zanzibar?

The Popo Bawa, a Lustful Bat-Like Ogre.

(reuters). The Popo Bawa, a Lustful Bat-Like Ogre.

The Popo Bawa is "a bat-like ogre said to prey on men, women and children. ... for superstitious Zanzibaris a visit from the sodomising gremlin is no joke. Although no one ever has seen it, belief in the monster and his unnatural lust is so strong that entire villages will sleep out of doors for protection: Popo Bawa (Swahili for Bat's Wing) prefers to attack behind closed doors at night. In huts set amid rustling groves of jackfruit and mangoes on Zanzibar's Pemba island, victims told Reuters in interviews that they detected a bad smell, became cold and went into a trance in the moments before they felt the creature's inhuman strength. Some attacks were heralded by the sound of giant wings and claws rattling and scraping on huts' tin roofs. Others cringed in terror at what sounded like a car engine ticking over."

The bat-like part makes me think of the Mothman. Could the two be related? What foul beasts dwell unseen in Zanzibar?

Reader Comments: Chupacabra

Yo, I am a veterinarian in northern minnesota and I have two of these type of creatures in my practice. They are dogs suffering from genetic skin mutations. Many dogs which have "blue" coats, like some Samoyeds, some Dobermans, and others can throw dangerous genetic skin mutations which will make the animal hairless. In addition the condition is frequently accompanied by nasty scaly lesions, atypical toenail growth and appearance and even strange tooth growth. Many Chinese Hairless dogs have wierd spikey teeth. Some wierd gene brought along with the hairless thing. Having more than one in an area probably means they are related a generation or two back. Since the animal with this kind of near lethal genetic mutation probably has a whole host of genetic problems, immune dificiency among them it would also be possible for an immune compromised animal to be more likely to have mange. You have probably received similar reports from other vets. Nice site. You got to love the Aye-Aye

See our Chupacabra article, and Crytpozoolgy news (to wee the Aye Aye).

Reader Comments: Chupacabra

Yo, I am a veterinarian in northern minnesota and I have two of these type of creatures in my practice. They are dogs suffering from genetic skin mutations. Many dogs which have "blue" coats, like some Samoyeds, some Dobermans, and others can throw dangerous genetic skin mutations which will make the animal hairless. In addition the condition is frequently accompanied by nasty scaly lesions, atypical toenail growth and appearance and even strange tooth growth. Many Chinese Hairless dogs have wierd spikey teeth. Some wierd gene brought along with the hairless thing. Having more than one in an area probably means they are related a generation or two back. Since the animal with this kind of near lethal genetic mutation probably has a whole host of genetic problems, immune dificiency among them it would also be possible for an immune compromised animal to be more likely to have mange. You have probably received similar reports from other vets. Nice site. You got to love the Aye-Aye

See our Chupacabra article, and Crytpozoolgy news (to wee the Aye Aye).

Latest Bigfoot video.

(canoe) Wednesday on A CURRENT AFFAIR. The latest Bigfoot video.

Foremost Bigfoot expert Matthew Moneymaker of the Bigfoot Field Research Group Matthew Moneymaker testified to the videotapes' apparent authenticity.

?It leans toward being not a human, and when it's not a human and it does not fit the description of things people see in other places, then it's more likely a Sasquatch."

Perhaps all photos and video of Bigfoot are blurry because Bigfoot actually is blurry. See our Bigfoot article for much more.

Latest Bigfoot video.

(canoe) Wednesday on A CURRENT AFFAIR. The latest Bigfoot video.

Foremost Bigfoot expert Matthew Moneymaker of the Bigfoot Field Research Group Matthew Moneymaker testified to the videotapes' apparent authenticity.

?It leans toward being not a human, and when it's not a human and it does not fit the description of things people see in other places, then it's more likely a Sasquatch."

Perhaps all photos and video of Bigfoot are blurry because Bigfoot actually is blurry. See our Bigfoot article for much more.

What exactly was the ‘Dover Demon?’

The bizarre tale begins at 10:30 p.m. on April 21 as three 17-year-olds, Bill Bartlett, Mike Mazzocca and Andy Brodie, are driving north on Farm Street. Bartlett, who's behind the wheel of a Volkswagen, spots something creeping along a low wall of loose stones on the left side of the road. At first he thinks the image is a dog or a cat until his headlights shine on it and he realizes it's nothing he's ever seen before.

The figure slowly turns its head and stares into the light, its two large, round, glassy, lidless eyes shining brightly "like two orange marbles." Its watermelon-shaped head, resting at the top of a thin neck, is the size of the rest of its body. Except for its oversized head, the creature is thin, with long spindly arms and legs, and large hands and feet. The skin is hairless and peach-colored and appears to have a rough ure. "Like wet sandpaper," Bartlett subsequently tells Coleman. Standing no more than 3 1/2 to 4 feet tall, the figure is shaped like "a baby's body with long arms and legs." It had been making its way along the wall, its long fingers curling around the rocks, when the car lights surprised it. Read more.

What exactly was the ‘Dover Demon?’

The bizarre tale begins at 10:30 p.m. on April 21 as three 17-year-olds, Bill Bartlett, Mike Mazzocca and Andy Brodie, are driving north on Farm Street. Bartlett, who's behind the wheel of a Volkswagen, spots something creeping along a low wall of loose stones on the left side of the road. At first he thinks the image is a dog or a cat until his headlights shine on it and he realizes it's nothing he's ever seen before.

The figure slowly turns its head and stares into the light, its two large, round, glassy, lidless eyes shining brightly "like two orange marbles." Its watermelon-shaped head, resting at the top of a thin neck, is the size of the rest of its body. Except for its oversized head, the creature is thin, with long spindly arms and legs, and large hands and feet. The skin is hairless and peach-colored and appears to have a rough ure. "Like wet sandpaper," Bartlett subsequently tells Coleman. Standing no more than 3 1/2 to 4 feet tall, the figure is shaped like "a baby's body with long arms and legs." It had been making its way along the wall, its long fingers curling around the rocks, when the car lights surprised it. Read more.

Mongolian Death Worm?

Scientists search for Mongolian Death Worm Attempt to confirm existence of legendary beast.

Mongolian nomads have made extraordinary claims about the animal, reporting that the death worm can spit a corrosive yellow saliva that acts like acid and that they have the ability to generate blasts of electricity powerful enough to kill a full grown camel.

The Mongolian Death Worm is generally considered a cryptozoological creature, an animal whose existence is disputed and/or unconfirmed. To date there are no scientifically reliable sightings but the expedition's leader, cryptozologist Richard Freeman, hopes to prove once and for all whether this much feared beast of legend actually exists.

Freeman has his own theory on the death worm: I don't think that it's a worm at all. True worms need moisture. I think it is a limbless, burrowing reptile, probably a giant member of a group of reptiles known as amphisbaenas or worm lizards. These are a primitive group of poorly studied animals. They are not snakes or lizards but are related to both. I think the Death Worm is a giant member of this group. - mongabay

Mongolian Death Worm?

Scientists search for Mongolian Death Worm Attempt to confirm existence of legendary beast.

Mongolian nomads have made extraordinary claims about the animal, reporting that the death worm can spit a corrosive yellow saliva that acts like acid and that they have the ability to generate blasts of electricity powerful enough to kill a full grown camel.

The Mongolian Death Worm is generally considered a cryptozoological creature, an animal whose existence is disputed and/or unconfirmed. To date there are no scientifically reliable sightings but the expedition's leader, cryptozologist Richard Freeman, hopes to prove once and for all whether this much feared beast of legend actually exists.

Freeman has his own theory on the death worm: I don't think that it's a worm at all. True worms need moisture. I think it is a limbless, burrowing reptile, probably a giant member of a group of reptiles known as amphisbaenas or worm lizards. These are a primitive group of poorly studied animals. They are not snakes or lizards but are related to both. I think the Death Worm is a giant member of this group. - mongabay