Obscured by Clouds

Obscured by Clouds - Prologue

- Excerpt from World Cryptozoology

“As with so many aboriginal legends, that of the Bunyip may actually be rooted in fact. Tribal knowledge, passed down verbally through countless generations, evolves as certainly as real species evolve over time. Although largely acknowledged now as myth, the Bunyip legend is still accepted as truth by some primitive Oceanic peoples. Nonetheless, the evolutionary nature of the legend has probably reached a stasis. Thus, descriptions of the Bunyip in twentieth century terms likely depart appreciably from earlier accounts of this terrifying beast.

“Contemporary descriptions portray a nocturnal creature, possibly supernatural, living in remote areas of Australia and New Guinea. A great deal of physical variation is to be expected. Although deadly to all humans, women are considered to be at particular risk.

“Physically, the Bunyip is said to range in size anywhere from that of an otter all the way up to that of a small pony. This is certainly a range spreading several hundred pounds. Deeply set orbits offset with a protruding supraorbital ridge form the bony structure of the central face. The eyes are said to be luminescent. Tall, cartilaginous ears border a flattened cranium. A small ossified point may appear in the parietal vertex area. Underneath the squat, compressed nose and flared nares, sharp canine teeth or incisors protrude from the mouth. Some accounts describe these as curving tusks. In either case, this specialized dentition is believed to be used for opening and disemboweling its victims. By some descriptions, a scaled creature, the Bunyip is more commonly said to be covered with short, reddish-brown hair. It is considered a good swimmer. Although primarily a quadruped, it is believed to be able to stand and possibly run on its hind legs.

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“Some tribes hold that the Bunyip is simply a predatory animal, while others contend that it is a supernatural demon, bent on evil conduct. Particularly in New Guinea, natives believe that the Bunyip paralyzes its victims with its glowing gaze prior to setting in for the kill. Regardless of its intent, it is universally considered by believers to be viscous in the extreme.

“Stories of the Bunyip may reflect oral traditions of the Pleistocene era Thylacoleo carnifex, the carnivorous Marsupial Lion. Although Thylacoleo is believed to have become extinct some thirty thousand years ago, it is possible that the Lion and early hominids may have lived contemporaneously. (See the crossopterygians, particularly the Coelacanth, pgs. 385-388) Antediluvian memories of encounters could certainly take on mythic proportions over the millennia.

“In addition to its legendary crimes, the Bunyip is occasionally credited with modern day carnage. An Australian missionary team disappeared from its coastal settlement near New Guinea’s Ramu River estuary in 1931. When word seeped out that a group of white men had been found gutted and dismembered, the Bunyip was immediately credited. Subsequent searches for the missionaries by a Royal Australian Army detachment discovered no evidence of the clergymen nor of their demise, and their official disposition was ‘Lost, Presumed Dead.’ Since then, a number of other disturbing cases have been attributed to the demon-beast, including a series of mutilations in Sepik Province native villages during the spring of 1948.”

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