The Uturunco in present times.
Chupacabras, uturunco or jaguar?
November 8, 2014
El Tribuno (Salta Newspaper)
An unclassified predator prowls the fields of Salta and terrifies small farmers by murdering their goats.These days some strange animal or being that we cannot identify is lurking in the fields of Salta. The evidence of its presence leaves no doubt: forty dead goats in Coronel Cornejo, fifteen more animals in Palomitas, all with exactly the same cut on the neck and a death without bleeding. All the animals were attacked in a time that is estimated to be very short; they were all in the corral itself and among other breeding animals; in neither case did guard dogs alert anyone to the presence of a predator, nor was there any sound that would attract the attention of their owners. No trace or sign of violence were found in the surrounding area.
Although the first reference that is heard when talking about this type of animal massacre is 'Chupacabra' (Goat-sucker), another possibility also returns from the ancient myths of our region: 'Uturunco' is a mythological being that unites man and jaguar, a very widespread legend that is found from the cultures of Central America to those of Patagonia. Although in each region the legend has taken on its own characteristics, we can distinguish points in common, such as that of the time of thr appearance of Uturunco, which always occurs in the days following excessively hot weather, generally close to full-moon nights.
At such times the Uturunco is said to come out to 'hunt' both animals and men or souls without destiny. This transformation [from man to jaguar] might occur because the man possesses a magical jaguar skin inherited from ancients witches. When this person is mysteriously called, he wraps himself in the leather and with some ancient words emerges from his wrapping as Uturunco.
For the provinces of Mesopotamia, however, it is a curse and not a choice. The victim is bitten by another Uturunco, changing his destiny for eternity. It also happens that it is impossible to kill him. Your curse can be changed only through the love of a woman, because the Uturunco is always a man.
The Chupacabra is a contemporary myth and its birthplace is Central America. We owe the spread of its existence to the United States, where there were mutilations of animals with characteristics that were difficult to classify compared with other predator attacks. Although the first news of the Chupacabra arose in Puerto Rico, the cases of mutilated animals in Texas forced the official investigators to give a verdict, so the attacker was classified as a 'Canid'. However, due to its very particular method of killing, the Chupacabra has also been judged a winged being, a reptile, etc.
In June 2002 on the La Troja farm, about 75 kilometers from Salta, in the middle of an impenetrable mountain, a group of almost surgically mutilated cows were found without any sign of a predator's footprints or any evidence of their having bled to death despite the fact that the flesh around the eyes, tongue, lower jaws, genital organs of female specimens and udders [had been removed?]
The most recent attack was when fifteen goats from a school in the Güemense area were found dead. Local residents claim that a supposed 'chupacabra' murdered an entire herd. They have wounds in the neck and there were no feline tracks in the place," the Chronicle said.
The attacks of this unique predator began last Friday, first in a Coronel Cornejo farm, twenty kilometers from Tartagal. Although the producers stood guard, the next day the deaths were repeated. Something attacked and killed sixteen large animals within the Villalba family corrals, which are located a few meters from the main house. Nobody heard any of the six dogs in the house, nor the moan of a single goat that was attacked. Whatever it was, it left no traces that reveal its identity.
"When a big cat wants to teach its young to kill, it generally kills several animals, but it leaves marks, you can hear the screaming, and it always targets the smallest goats," says fisherman Juan Ruarte, an expert in Salta forests.
The second attack happened in a rural school, last Monday in the area of Palomitas from the General Güemes department, 65 kilometers southeast of Salta. This time they found fifteen large lifeless specimens with deep cuts on their necks, similar to those of the animals killed in Coronel Cornejo. Again, nobody in Palomitas saw or heard any strange movements, nor were any footprints discovered, so the Police Rural have ruled out a large feline.
Source
https://www.eltribuno.com/salta/not...as-uturunco-o-jaguar-chupacabras-inexplicable
