A Queensland truckie claims he saw a hulking, hairy 3-metre tall Yowie, but what is a Yowie?
Let’s be clear, there is no proof that Yowies exist. There is no hard evidence, no specimens, no bones, but plenty of reported sightings.
But similar sightings have been reported all over the world, where these creatures are also called Sasquatch, Yeti or Bigfoot.
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READ NOWIn Australia, it’s the Yowie. But their existence hasn’t been conclusively proven or verified by science and most stories rest on folklore or eyewitness reports.
WHAT IS A YOWIE?
The Yowie has roots in Aboriginal oral history and according to folklore, is a creature of the Outback.
The Kuku Yalanji Tribe of far north Queensland claims to have coexisted with the Yowie for centuries. They have a long and detailed history of attacks by the Yowie in their legends.
The Yowie is the Australian equivalent of the US Sasquatch of Native American tribal lore.
WHAT ABOUT THE SO-CALLED SIGHTINGS?
Yowie hunter Dean Harrison claims there have been thousands of sightings of the Yowie – or “hairy man” –
The first ‘official’ Yowie report was made in Sydney in 1790.
WHERE ARE THE MOST RECENT SIGHTINGS?
The Blue Mountains in NSW is a hub for reported Yowie sightings, followed by the Sunshine and Gold coasts in Queensland. Reported sightings have also increased recently in Western Australia around the Mandurah area.
WHERE DO THEY LIVE?
They’re apparently adept at blending into the bush and prefer the eastern seaboard along the Great Dividing Range.
They can range large distances, but Mr Harrison says the Yowie does have a ‘home’ territory and operates in family units.
WHY HAVE NO BODIES BEEN FOUND?
Mr Harrison believes Yowie family groups operate as a community to take care of their dead.