June 14, 2022
What appeared to be a mysterious-looking creature has been filmed lurking outside the Amarillo Zoo—leaving city officials baffled about what it might be, reports Chron.
In the “dark and early morning hours” of May 21, security cameras inside a perimeter fence captured a still image of a strange visitor outside of the zoo at approximately 1:25 a.m., according to a Wednesday, June 8, news release from the city.
Now city officials are asking the public for help in determining what it might be. “Was it a person with a strange hat who likes to walk at night? A large coyote on its hind legs? A Chupacabra? It is a mystery—for Amarillo to help solve,” city officials said in the release.
For those unaware of its origins, according to Britannia a chupacabra, in Latin American popular legend, is a monstrous creature that attacks animals and consumes their blood. The name is derived from the Spanish words chupar (“to suck”) and cabra (“goat”) and can be translated as “goat-sucker.” As a fearsome but probably nonexistent creature, the chupacabra has been characterized as the southern equivalent of the Sasquatch.
For now, the city is declaring the creature an “Unidentified Amarillo Object”— or UAO. City of Amarillo Director of Parks and Recreation Michael Kashuba said it’s important to note that there were no signs of attempted entry into the zoo, no animals or individuals harmed and no signs of criminal activity or vandalism.
“We just want to let the Amarillo community have some fun with this,” he said.. “It is definitely a strange and interesting image. Maybe Amarillo can help solve the mystery of our UAO.”
City officials are asking anyone with ideas about the visitor’s true identity to contact the City of Amarillo at publiccommunications@amarillo.gov or on its social media pages.
Some social media users have offered up their own theories. “Is this guy on the loose?” wrote one Twitter user with aGIF of a U.S. Capitol rioter wearing a horned headdress.
Another Twitter user responded with an image of a demogorgon, a tall and thin humanoid creature from the Netflix Original series Stranger Things.
Other guesses included Sonic the Hedgehog and Rocket Raccoon from the Marvel film Guardians of the Galaxy.
Still, some would rather not dig any deeper into the mystery. One Facebook user wrote, “Oh wow! That looks like [none] of my business.”
Research contact: @chron
