At the break of dawn, around 4 a.m., a chilling scream shattered the silence of the Xingu River’s dense forest in northern Brazil. A couple strolling along a nearby road quickly took cover behind a rubber tree. From their hiding spot, they glimpsed a shadowy figure drawing nearer.
As it approached, the figure revealed itself as a man-like creature covered in coarse animal hair and emitting a foul stench called capelobo. It let out another blood-curdling scream, echoing through the forest before vanishing into the trees. The only trace left was a series of perfectly round footprints in the dirt. The couple, who felt sickened by the creature’s noxious odor, would endure a lingering sense of dread but narrowly escaped a more sinister fate.
The Legend of Capelobo
“It’s Capelobo! It’s Capelobo!” exclaimed a Yudjá woman who had witnessed the terrifying encounter. She later recounted the story to her grandson, who shared it with researchers in 2019. According to her, it was once a man but had transformed into a monster that roams the night, preying on human blood and brains, as well as smaller animals like puppies and kittens. In the Brazilian state of Pará, the capelobo is described as a humanoid tapir with a hooked snout, while in Maranhão to the northeast, it resembles an anteater, attacking its victims by sucking out their brains as though consuming termites from a mound.
Early Documentation and Exploration
The earliest documented accounts of this creature can be traced back to Silivo Froes Abreu, a young scientist from Rio de Janeiro who explored Maranhão in the 1920s. Initially in search of the valuable babassu palm, Abreu also delved into the region’s geography and the Indigenous people’s lore. During the early 20th century, much of Brazil’s vast interior remained unexplored by the Portuguese settlers confined to the coastal regions.
Abreu’s Accounts and Indigenous Beliefs
In his 1931 work, Na terra das palmeiras, Abreu recounted the Guajajara people’s reluctance to share their legends with a foreigner. Despite the challenges, he managed to learn about the capelobo, which he referred to as “cupélobo.” He likened it to a werewolf, a familiar figure in Portuguese folklore, noting that “lobo” translates to “wolf” in Portuguese. According to some tales, it originated from an elderly man who, after losing his sanity and venturing into the forest, began consuming raw meat and was transformed into the beast. Unlike traditional werewolf lore, this transformation was permanent.
Evolving Portrayals and Modern Interpretations
As the 20th century unfolded, the capelobo’s portrayal grew even more terrifying. Descriptions varied, with some accounts describing it as having only one eye and no mouth or a single leg, but it was always characterized by its piercing scream and relentless hunger. Luís da Câmara Cascudo, a renowned scholar of Brazilian folklore, depicted the capelobo as a malevolent entity, a relentless predator immune to reason. He suggested that only a well-placed arrow to its navel, hidden beneath its thick hide, could stop the beast.
The Capelobo in Contemporary Culture
Abreu reported that the Indigenous people considered the capelobo a tangible threat. After describing zoo animals to them, one individual asked if the zoo housed a capelobo. Cascudo, however, was skeptical, attributing the capelobo legend to alcohol-related delusions among some community members. Modern researchers often view the capelobo as an Indigenous myth, representing the tangible dangers lurking in Brazil’s forests through anthropomorphic storytelling.
In 1947, Cascudo’s Geografia dos mitos brasileiros suggested that while the capelobo—whether corporeal or supernatural—would continue to terrorize hunters and children in Pará and Maranhão, its scream would likely remain confined to the region. Yet, the rise of cryptozoology and internet culture has brought the capelobo back into the spotlight, with enthusiasts creating statues, illustrations, and merchandise featuring the elusive creature.
The Inescapable Truth
Despite these modern portrayals, one element remains consistent in Indigenous accounts: there is no safe way to encounter the capelobo. The only options are to hide or face becoming its next victim.
