Skunk Ape. - [Cryptid]

Skunk Ape. - [Cryptid] - (sometimes also known as "the abominable swampslob or stink-ape.)

• About this Cryptid: Named for their putrid, lingering stench which has been described as "bad eggs, mixed with skunk and the odour of rotting flesh" Southern Sasquatches have been spotted all throughout Florida, It's said that they have been known by trappers and fishermen as far back as the 1920s, they have been sighted as recently as 2010.  - Skunkapes are especially present in the Everglades forests and swamps. - They are often described as having greasy, dark reddish-brown or black fur, they are often depicted with white patches or grey beards. - Some reports have said that their feet measure 17" and a half inches long, and 11" and a half inches wide (across the toes) - they can weigh somewhere between 300-700 pounds! They're Often said to stand at about 6.6ft tall and are typically described as being "chimp or orangutang like" with the females being on the smaller side. They tend to walk hunched over. (Though the creatures Posture, height, foot size, weight and appearance of course vary wildly between accounts, most pop culture appearances uses the standard 'caveman-sasquatch' look.) Plaster casts from the everglades swampland's 'prove' that the creature likely has 3-4 toed, webbed feet (or hands.) - Skunk Ape trackers* say that it they live inside of or around alligator dens. - A skunk apes favourite meal is said to be “wet” lima beans with deer liver. [this is said to be the ideal bait, though: it's illegal to use bait to trap "animals" in Florida... it should also be noted that lima beans release cyanide, when crunched raw.]

• History: Specifically, the skunk ape which I have illustrated is (loosely) inspired by the The Myakka Skunk Ape photos from 2000. (as well as various description which have sprung up over time, I decided to lean into the orangutang look because Its a "different" shiloette from the "Neanderthal Sasquatch.") ...20+ years later, the Myakka ape photos are probably still: "the best-known photograph taken during an up-close and personal encounter with a Florida Skunk Ape." - According to the Smithsonian magazine: This photo was sent to the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, along with an unsigned letter. Claiming that the creature had climbed onto the sender’s back deck over the course of a few nights had taken some apples that their daughter had brought home. - they also heard it make a deep "woomp" noise, Their husband thought it was an orangutan, and the writer expressed concern about it being on the loose. - (known cryptozoologist @LorenColeman who investigated, later identified the creature as likely being an orangutan-like creature.) - The photograph was submitted anonymously, as the sender did not want anyone on their property. the letter arrived in the police office on Dec. 22nd, 2000, but it went unreported until the 29th. -

Later, The photographs where also used as the cover to a magazine on the topic & also appeared on the news as it was the topic of many news stories around the time.

[Photos courtesy of wayback machine, The Smithsonian Magazine & @Loren Coleman. )]

[The unsigned letter, archived thanks to the way back machine.] (notably the sender does not mention big foot (even once) just that she’s concerned for peoples safety.)]

-  I'd ALSO like to point out that the area is also the home to the centre for great apes, orangutang conservatory (since 1984) however, on that same note: there have been no records of an escaped ape from there (at least, around the time.) As well even if there was, apes eyes don't glow like a cats when shot with the light of a camera... (spooky!)

Loren Coleman (Renown cryptozoologist & Founder of the International museum of cryptozoology (of Maine.) - a full year prior to the photographs surfacing: also included an entry for the skunk ape in Cryptozoology A-Z [1999] - He also further elaborates on his research about the Myakka skunk ape (and many other big foot cousins) in "Bigfoot! The true story of apes in America." [2003] both books are must reads for those who are interested in the field of cryptozoology, or if just you want to know the full scoop about these photos I'd suggest you look there!!!

*The Skunk Ape Research HQ is located in Ochopee, Florida. - The Skunkape Festival is also held on the Campgrounds every June. (i'll come back and update this with more information another time, check back soon.)

• Fearsome critters: Skunk-Apes have also been included in a number of bestiaries on the subject of fearsome critters. Notably Once as the final entry in "Mythical Creatures of the USA & Canada" [Walker D Wyman, 1969.] & much more recently in "Fearsome Creatures of Florida" by John Henry Fleming [2009.]

• Pop culture & recent events: At the start of the covid-19 pandemic, gator land (amusement park) used the skunkapes stench to promote social distancing with a "social distancing skunkape" - in 2020, the SkunkApe was also briefly used as the logo for the Florida everglades hockey •

Sticker art by @samkalensky part of my cryptozoology series of stickers. check my shop for many more!