The Bunyip of Australia

The Bunyip is a creature from Australian Aboriginal legend that has been reported by European settlers since the early 1800s. Said to inhabit swamps, billabongs, and rivers, the bunyip is described as a large, fearsome animal that attacks those who come too close.

Indigenous Knowledge

Aboriginal peoples have legends of the bunyip predating European arrival. The creature is associated with specific water bodies and is treated with genuine fear. Different groups have different names and descriptions for similar creatures.

The Descriptions

Accounts of bunyips vary wildly. Some describe a creature resembling a giant starfish. Others describe something dog-like or seal-like with a horse’s tail. Some accounts mention tusks, horns, or a duck-like bill.

Early European Encounters

European settlers began reporting bunyips in the early 1800s. Bones and skulls were exhibited as bunyip remains. Colonial newspapers regularly published sighting reports. The creature was taken seriously.

Notable Cases

In 1846, a skull found near the Murrumbidgee River was identified as a bunyip by Aboriginal consultants before being classified as a deformed horse or cow. Similar discoveries have been made and debunked.

Modern Sightings

Bunyip sightings continue. Witnesses report large animals in waterways that do not match known species. Whether misidentified seals, unknown surviving megafauna, or something else entirely, something unusual is occasionally seen.

Assessment

The bunyip combines indigenous tradition with ongoing European sightings. Australia’s unique fauna makes the survival of unknown species more plausible than elsewhere. Whatever the bunyip is, belief in it persists.