From snakes to scorpions, the Australian outback is known for its fearsome creatures. Legend has it that this vast land is also home to mythical creatures, including a hairy monster called the Yowie.

The hairy beast with “upside down” feet has haunted for centuries

This beast has appeared in ancient European stories since the 19th century. It is described as a giant ape-like creature. Over the hundreds of years, people have occasionally reported seeing a Yowie.

Last encounter

In early December 2021, three men in Queensland (Australia) on their way to the Jimma campsite claimed that they came face to face with the Yowie monster.

“It was the scariest moment that made us not believe what we saw. At first, I thought it was a wild boar or something very big. When I got closer, I saw that it had the shape of an ape. When it saw us, the animal ran away,” Mr. Fitzgerald recalled.

Meanwhile, his companion Mr Slocock-Bennett described the monster as having an “ape-like” face and “long arms”, hiding under a street light.

A sketch of the Yowie as described after an encounter in 2021 in Queensland (Photo: Allthatsinteresting).

The unexpected encounter left Fitzgerald shaken. He was skeptical about his understanding of the world. “I had never had such a strange experience before. I could hardly sleep that night and was almost certain that I had seen something I would never have believed before,” he said.

While none of the three were certain whether the creature they encountered was a Yowie, they were not the first to claim to have encountered the mythical creature. Human encounters with the beast have reportedly occurred since 1790.

What kind of creature is Yowie?

The legend of the Yowie has been passed down orally by the Australian Aborigines for a long time. The Kuku Yalanji tribe in northern Queensland claim that they have lived with this creature for a long time. This is also a species that is said to have attacked them many times.

According to legend, there are “two types of Yowie”. One can grow up to 3 meters tall, while the other is only about 1.5 meters tall. They have a common ape-like face and orange-brown fur about 5 centimeters long. Although they are generally shy, they can become fierce and violent.

Although many people are skeptical about the existence of the Yowie, there are still some drawings in Australian Aboriginal caves depicting the tall, hairy creature. Some people think that the Yowie is an extinct great ape, or that they only live in very remote areas of Australia to stay away from human sight.

Statue of Yowie in Queensland (Photo: Daily Mail).

Since the 19th century, more accounts of Yowie encounters have been recorded. One account from 1842 describes the sighting as follows:

“The Australian aborigines strongly believe in the existence of the Yowie. The creature is described as being as tall as an adult man. Its body is covered with long white hair and fur. The Yowie has exceptionally long arms and large claws. Its feet are turned backwards. When it runs away, it leaves footprints that seem to go in the opposite direction. Overall, it is described as a hideous-looking monster.”

Another record from 1880 says that naturalist Henry James McCooey claimed to have seen the creature in New South Wales. But he said it was only about 1.5 meters tall, tailless, and covered in very long black hair.

Descriptions of the Yowie have changed over time, but human fear and curiosity about them has remained constant to this day.

So do Yowies exist? Are the ancient legends true? Some, including Fitzgerald and his companions, believe they are still out there somewhere.