MYTHICAL CREATURES THAT EXIST IN THE WILD

MYTHICAL CREATURES THAT EXIST IN THE WILD

Over the thousands of years, stories of fantastic and mythological creatures have been passed from generation to generation. Every civilization is abounding with its fair share of mythical beings from Yetis to dragons and Krakens. We enjoy the tall tales describing these creatures, but rarely do we ever stop and think of their actual existence! Well, we’re not insinuating anything, but if it’s even remotely possible that some of the mythical creatures we know actually did exist at some point –including present time – would you believe it? Hello dear viewer and welcome to yet another interesting episode of 100M, where we’ll look at the 10 mythical creatures that (may) have existed in the wild! 

1. Yeti

In popular culture, the Yeti is a giant, shaggy ape-like creature with huge feet and enormous saber-like teeth. It is a mythical monster resembling Bigfoot of the United States, but the Tibetian Yeti is a figure of ancient South Asian legends and folklore suppose to inhabit the upper reaches of the Himalayas – a remote location which true believer in the existence of the legendary creature use to drive the point that Yetis are rare, reclusive, and elusive creatures that are difficult to find in the wild. Suggesting that these ape-men of the Himalayas really do exist. Such has been the belief for centuries and stories of people spotting the Yeti or its footprint were common in Bhutan, India, and Nepal. But it’s the forensic evidence and fossils discovered in China, India, and Vietnam that provided the most compelling proof of Yeti’s existence. And scientists were able to complete the reconstruction of a creature that fits the hefty primate’s description. 

2. Unicorns 

Many cultures all around the world tell of mystical fairytale creatures depicted as white horses with pearly white manes and an elongated long horn extending from the forehead. Unlike many mythical creatures, which appear to draw from humanity’s deepest fears, unicorns are described as being magnificent and noble creatures often represented as a symbol of purity and goodness. These untamed creatures of mythology could be seen galloping in the forest where they fed on fruits, berries, and nuts. But the real-life unicorns did not live in the forest, rather on open grasslands. And they were more rhino-like than horse-like. These real-life unicorns –called Siberian unicorns—were so named for the huge horn that grew out of their forehead, much like the mythical creatures found in storybooks. They were ancient rhino species found to have lived at the same time as modern humans, until some 36,000 years ago- meaning that the early men did in fact encounter unicorns in the wild… just not the elegant, white ponies we imagined.

3. Centaur 

Being part-man and part-horse, the tales of Centaur in ancient Greece has long fascinated mankind. Legend has it that the mythical creature was stuck between two identities; one half as a wild beast and the other half as a nobleman. One notable centaur is often referred to in ancient Greek legends as the wise Chiron – a more cultured centaur, a respected intellectual, and a gifted healer. Chiron lived at the foot of Mount Pelion in Thessaly, northern Greece. And if you’re wondering whether other centaurs can be found in the region, the most sensible answer would be a resounding NO. You see, centaurs did not exist in their classic sense as being part-man part-horse, rather they were simply ordinary men riding on horseback at a time when such a thing was inconceivable. It is said that the name centaur was given to the Turks who traveled to Greece on horseback. From a distance, the horsemen looked like their torso was actually part of the horse they were riding on. My understanding is that the Turks still exist.

4. Sphinx

With the head of a human and the body of a lion, the Sphinx is one of the most interesting of all mythical creatures. Legend of the sphinx traces its roots in ancient Egyptian mythology with the creation of the Great Sphinx of Giza statue as a guardian of the ancient pyramid tomb of pharaoh Khufu being perhaps the most fascinating and mysterious pieces of human creation. For a long time, the world has believed that the Sphinx of Giza was constructed in the likeness of the fierce ancient Egyptian part woman, part lioness warrior goddess, prominently known as Bastet. However, new evidence suggests that the creators of the Sphinx may have been inspired by an actual terrestrial, albeit unusual feline.