Australia’s Bigfoot?
by Murray Byfield
What is a Yowie?
A Yowie is a large hominid (primate) which according to Aboriginal and European Australian folklore is said to inhabit the Australian Wilderness. Sightings have been documented since colonial times.
The Yowie is a large humanoid mammal usually described as being bi-pedal (walking on two feet) standing 7-8 feet tall covered with thick hair 4-6 inches long. Fur colour varies from rusty red to dark brown and black. Usually, the face is described as void of hair much like that of a Gorilla. Arms are described as being longer than humans with the legs slightly shorter as with most other primates.
Their heads are shrunken into the shoulders and appear to have no neck and have a stooped gait when walking. Witnesses often report “eye shine” the red glow of the creatures’ eyes at night.
Yowies like most Australian animals are nocturnal and are most active at dusk and early morning. They are quite often sighted near water sources. Their manner varies from shy to outwardly aggressive.
Yowies are believed to be omnivorous and are thought to be opportunistic and will feed on almost anything readily available.
In their element Yowies are believed to be masters of their domain. They are thought to be very intelligent creatures and use various methods of not being detected by observers. Crouching down still, freezing behind large trees are typical methods used to avoid detection. In chance encounters with humans who have actually come into contact with one, Yowies usually flee the scene very quickly. The have been seen leaping high fences in a single bound and traverse their way through thick bush like a fish swims through water.
Aboriginal lore says that the Yowie has its feet on backwards. This could be interpreted as meaning that Yowies are almost impossible to track.
Yowies are believed to be territorial and defend and mark their territory by various methods. Such as the snapping of saplings and branches, the construction of tee pee type arrangements made of sticks and fallen branches. They are known to defend their areas by throwing rocks, sticks and other objects at intruders.
Yowies are said to communicate with each other by howls which sound similar to known primates. Also, they use booming or brumsticka where they beat the ground presumably with their feet or fists, they have also been known to use a thick branch and beat it against a large tree trunk.
Contrary to what most would think Yowies are believed to live close to human civilization in some cases. Sightings have been reported in rural areas, newer housing estates and not just in the remote bushland.
Yowies have been known to interact with humans in other ways such as playing hide and seek type games. They also seem to have an affiliation with human children and have been known to steal children’s clothing from clothes lines.
Artificial light also seems to be a fascination for the Yowie. On one hand they are attracted to it but by the same token are afraid of it.
The Yowie has been likened to the Yeti, Abominable Snowman, Sasquatch, Bigfoot and Skunk ape creatures found overseas. And many similarities exist in terms of behavior and appearance. Some researchers suggest that the Yowie could be the marsupial counterpart of Sasquatch and point to appearance of only three toes found in some Yowie footprints like other Australian Marsupials.
The Yowie has not yet been scientifically proven to exist.
