Masterton Monster

Masterton Monster (By Simon Winheld)

Masterton Monster is large, unidentified, vicious marine mammal was said to have had a brutal encounter with a pack of fierce hunting dogs, resulting in the unfortunate death of one of the canines.

The initial account comes to us from the "New Zealand Times" on May 9, 1883. Although there is almost no background information regarding this creature, the account still serves as one of the many examples of a legitimate news source chronicling a spectacular cryptozoological event.

According to the article, a large, unknown — though presumably marine — animal, with a broad muzzle, short legs and curly hair was reported near the town of Masterton. The report further stated that fearful townsfolk loosed their dogs upon the beast, at which time one of the canines was “flayed.”

The ferocity of the animal’s attack was enough to discourage the remainder of the dogs, who swiftly ran in the opposite direction. The account ends there, but from the few available details one can put together an intriguing, albeit hazy, image of the creature.

The description of its “short legs” would seem to indicate that the animal had feet instead of flippers, and the mention of “curly hair” has made many researchers lean toward a mammalian rather than reptilian or amphibious creature. Perhaps, when all is said and done, the Masterton Monster might have been nothing more than a large and mutated otter.

Although the creature has often been associated with the 1890 case of EUROA BEAST, it is interesting to note the  similarities between the creature described and the Australian BUNYIP, as well as the notorious “Irish Crocodile”, known in Gaelic as the DOBHAR-CHU.

This mysterious monster gained global fame when it was chronicled by the illustrious Charles Fort in his 1931 paranormal opus “Lo!”:

“New Zealand Times, May 9, 1883 — excitement near Masterton — unknown creature at large — curly hair, short legs, and broad muzzle. Dogs sent after it — one of the dogs flayed by it — rest of the dogs running away — probably ‘with their tails between their legs,’ but the reporter overlooking this convention.”

An Aerial View of Masterton Town