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Yowie

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The Yowie is a famous mystery in the Australian Outback. It is a creature from folklore that many people talk about. These legends have roots in Aboriginal oral history. People in different parts of Australia use many different names for it. In Queensland, it might be called a Quinkin or a joogabinna. In New South Wales, people use names like Ghindaring or Doolaga.

Notes on the Aborigines of New South Wales - Plate 7 A Yaroma rushed out and swallowed the Man
Notes on the Aborigines of New South Wales - Plate 7 A Yaroma rushed out and swallowed the Man

This creature is part of a very old way of telling stories.

Most people describe the Yowie as a large, hairy animal. It is said to walk upright on two legs like a human. It looks a lot like an ape. Some reports say it has a wide and flat nose. The size of the Yowie can change depending on the story. Some say it stands between five and ten feet tall.

Bombala Yowie
Bombala Yowie

People also talk about its footprints. These tracks are much larger than a human footprint. However, the shapes and the number of toes on the tracks are not always the same.

There are many different stories about where the name comes from. One record from 1875 mentions the name "Yō-wī" among the Gamilaraay people. This was described as a spirit that walks the earth at night. Some people think the name comes from the "Yahoo." An elder named Old Bungaree said the Yahoo was an ancient race. He said they lived in Australia during the Dreamtime. He said the Yahoos were very fast runners.

Notes on the Aborigines of New South Wales - Plate 7 A Yaroma rushed out and swallowed the Man
Notes on the Aborigines of New South Wales - Plate 7 A Yaroma rushed out and swallowed the Man

Many people have claimed to see the Yowie over the years. In 1882, Henry James McCooey said he saw an ape near the coast. He said it had long black hair and reddish fur. It was about five feet tall when it stood up. In 1912, Charles Harper reported seeing a huge man-like animal. He said it was near a fire and made loud noises.

Bombala Yowie
Bombala Yowie

In the 1970s, a group offered a $200,000 reward to find one. No one has ever claimed that money.

The Yowie is now a big part of popular culture. It appears in many books, movies, and even video games. For example, it is in the game Final Fantasy X. It also appears in the cartoon We Bare Bears. Some people study the Yowie to see if it is a real animal. This study is called cryptozoology. They want to know if the Yowie is a real type of ape. Others think the stories might come from old myths or misunderstandings.

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File:Notes on the Aborigines of New South Wales - Plate 7 A Yaroma rushed out and swallowed the Man.jpg
Notes on the Aborigines of New South...
File:Bombala Yowie.jpg
Bombala Yowie.jpg
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