cyclops – Museum of the Weird

Undocumented new species are discovered all of the time here on Earth, but occasionally, people automatically assume the bizarre is actually “alien.” That said, the lone photo that has been circulating on the web since August of 2012 of the creature shot and killed in a Namibian forest is creepy, to say the least. If the image, and the story are real, the figure is strikingly humanoid, with muppet-esque features, skin covered tentacles on its head, and what appears to be a case of “Patau Syndrome”, otherwise known as “Cyclops Syndrome.”

According to reports, the creature, which was to undergo a full forensic investigation by Namibian authorities after its capture, was spotted by locals as they were escorting a hunting party through the jungle. The “alien” was foraging for food, but when spotted, turned and fled. The hunting party and their escorts took chase and followed the creature back to its lair where it turned on them and attacked in an attempt to defend itself. The creature was shot and killed, but not before the hunting party spied three additional “animals” fleeing into the undergrowth.

Of course “theories” about the creature’s origin flooded weird-news websites quickly following, including a possible relationship to a Mayan god legend. The most reasonable explanation presented so far has been that of genetic deformities unfortunately caused by incessant, long-term inbreeding. Think back to Season 4, Episode 2 of The X-Files, entitled “Home.” The consequences of close inbreeding over the span of several generations can result in severe birth defects and other grotesque anomalies. Another theory is that it is a new species of pigmy, which has, until now, avoided our detection.

Nearly a year later we are still waiting for the results from the forensic autopsy done on this creature, leaving us to believe it was all simply a hoax. However, nothing online has turned up concrete evidence of fact or fiction. Perhaps one day we will know the truth? In the meantime, be careful on those hunting parties when you’re trekking through the jungle…

Although, not the most uncommon deformity involved with excess breeding of animals, the owner of this goat has been doing it for over 10 years and has never had this happen.

Ghost Theory writes:

News out of India is that the Coimbatore VOC Park Zoo is home to a rare one eyed goat.

The goat, named Lefty because it is left handed, was born in Perundurai, Erode, India and at the time of the below photo, looks to be about who knows old. Oh, I made that part up regarding the name. Actually the goat could have any number of names. In fact, I think I’ll run a contest! Yea, the “Name The Cyclops Goat Contest”. The winner will be given an all expenses paid trip to India’s drinking water purification plant. Of course, that could be a filthy lie as well.

I could throw a lot of biology and genetic stuff in at this point, but does anyone really want to read it? No, you just want another picture of this poor unfortunate cow, uh, I mean goat.

The goat’s owner, Kandasamy, claims that in his 10 years of breeding goats, this is his first cyclops. This is obviously a genetic disorder as the goats mother had another calf who came out with the standard two eyed configuration.

Lefty, err, I mean no name does look like he could use a meal or two. Then again, maybe they are starving it in hopes that the eye will shrink and split. OK, eye can see my jokes are starting to go south, so I’ll end it here…no, here…..here is a much better place….speaking of here, does anyone else hear those voices in my head?

Thanks to our good friends at Weird Asia News for bringing us…*cough*…weird Asian news.

Tag: cyclops

STRANGE “ALIEN” SHOT BY HUNTERS IN NAMIBIA

CYCLOPS GOAT BORN IN INDIA