New Bunyip
Posted by: Loren Coleman on August 19th, 2009
A NEW BUNYIP.
The Euroa [Victoria] correspondent of the Melbourne Argus writes: —
Considerable excitement has been caused in Euroa by reports as to an extraordinary animal having been seen in a swamp at Wylonemby, about fourteen miles distant. The swamp is about 150 yards across, and a creek flows through it.
For six years or more the swamp is reputed to have been the haunt of something abnormal, tales having been told of dogs flying out of the place, and never again being induced to enter.
Last week a couple of young men went into the swamp for the purpose of cutting reeds, which are
6ft. high and very thick, when they were alarmed by a sudden splashing and snorting near at hand, and the rushes waved as if allowing passage to some large animal. They quickly retired, but next day one ventured back to carry out the reeds he had cut[;] when he was again alarmed by strange sounds, he
leaped upon a log, and at some thirty paces away saw a large head upreared, which he likens to that of a bulldog. It kept this position for about ten minutes, when it disappeared, the motion of the rushes giving the idea of an animal some 30ft. long. The young man was greatly scared.
On a report of the occurrence appearing in the local journal a party of Euroa sportsmen went out to the swamp, where they were joined by local residents on horseback. After beating about for more than an hour they were about to give up the quest, when a sudden rustling was heard, and two of the party saw an enormous tail as thick as a man’s thigh disappearing into the large trunk of a fallen tree. A shot was fired at the animal, but its effect is a matter of conjecture. Attempts were made to dislodge the bunyip, but without avail, the only result being a small black snake, which was quickly dispatched. Night coming on[,] the party retired, but will again visit the scene on Saturday. Those who saw the animal describe it as being of a yellow colour underneath and a dark brown above, “as thick as Mr. Barr’s bell-topper.”
It is supposed to be an immense serpent, such as is found in Queensland.
Source: Brisbane, Queensland; Brisbane Courier, February 25, 1890.
Thanks to Jerome Clark for this archival piece.
About Loren Coleman
Loren Coleman is one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, some say “the” leading living cryptozoologist. Certainly, he is acknowledged as the current living American researcher and writer who has most popularized cryptozoology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Starting his fieldwork and investigations in 1960, after traveling and trekking extensively in pursuit of cryptozoological mysteries, Coleman began writing to share his experiences in 1969. An honorary member of Ivan T. Sanderson’s Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained in the 1970s, Coleman has been bestowed with similar honorary memberships of the North Idaho College Cryptozoology Club in 1983, and in subsequent years, that of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, CryptoSafari International, and other international organizations. He was also a Life Member and Benefactor of the International Society of Cryptozoology (now-defunct).
Loren Coleman’s daily blog, as a member of the Cryptomundo Team, served as an ongoing avenue of communication for the ever-growing body of cryptozoo news from 2005 through 2013. He returned as an infrequent contributor beginning Halloween week of 2015.
Coleman is the founder in 2003, and current director of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine.
“he leaped upon a log, and at some thirty paces away saw a large head upreared, which he likens to that of a bulldog.”
Corresponds well to “a sketch on the bunyip by Giorgio Tarditi.”
Great post, Loren!!!
Very “politically incorrect” as well. Since “shooting” at the Bunyip would not be considered “kosher” today. 🙂
As it is—good tale and a colorful description of the Bunyip.
Thanks again.
“It is supposed to be an immense serpent, such as is found in Queensland.”
hrmmm
i am no expert in bunyips… just casually read, with interest, some articles on them.
but i cannot say i recall reading serpents and bunyips linked together.
it has been my understanding that most people consider the bunyip to be, should it be real, an aquatic or semi-aquatic mammal, perhaps the ‘extinct” Diprotodon.
am i missing a large facet of bunyip lore not knowing about immense serpents being called the same?
i generally find serpents and dinosaurs boring… i hope to get this back into the world of mammals, hehe.
well the description of the head is what ive heard about and ive also read bunyips have a sort of relation to dragons so maybe…