By Tim Binnall
A compelling video from Chile shows the moment some fishermen encounter a strange-looking mystery creature that has been likened to a legendary cryptid known as El Cuero. According to a local media report, the strange scene was filmed earlier this month at the Allipén River in the southern part of the country. In the footage (featured above), one of the fishermen alerts his friend to something unusual in the water. The pair initially marvel at the submerged circular oddity that they speculate might be a weird rock. However, when they see it start moving, the fishermen quickly realize that it is some kind of aquatic animal.
Amusingly, one of the men proceeds to poke at the creature with his fishing pole; his friend shouts, "watch out, you idiot, watch out!" The prodding prompts the peculiar animal to swim away, disappearing back into the water and leaving the astonished witnesses wondering what they had just encountered. To that end, one of the men marveled that the creature resembled a manta ray, but mused that he had never seen such a thing in the river.
Since being posted online, the video has spread like wildfire on Chilean social media, with many viewers noting that the creature bore a striking resemblance to a particularly bizarre cryptid, known as El Cuero, that has long been a part of the country's folklore. According to legend, the fearsome 'water spirit' is said to boast a leathery body that looks like a flattened cowhide, which it uses to envelop its victims and then suck their proverbial life force from them. Meanwhile, skeptics say that El Cuero could be a freshwater stingray or simply a tall tale meant to instill caution in those who venture into the country's waterways. What do you think the fishermen encountered? Weigh in with your thoughts at the C2C Facebook page.