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The Yowie: In Search of Australia's Bigfoot
Australia's most baffling zoological mystery! During the early colonial era, Australia's Aborigines often warned British settlers to beware of huge, ape-like creatures that lurked in the rugged mountains and deep forests of the island continent. Their people, they said, had been encountering the hairy horrors since time immemorial. They knew them by many names, including doolagarl, thoolagarl, jurrawarra, and tjangara. Soon the colonists, too, began to experience hair-raising encounters with the hulking, foul-smelling creatures, which they referred to as "Australian apes," "yahoos" or "youries." Today, they are generally referred to as yowies. The list of modern-day eyewitnesses includes zoologists, rangers, surveyors and members of the elite Special Air Service Regiment. This book chronicles the yowie saga from the pre-colonial era to the present day. It contains over 300 carefully documented eyewitness reports and a vast amount of other data, much of which suggests that the damnably elusive creatures really do exist. The authors also critically examine the many theories that have been put forward to explain - or explain away - Australia's most baffling zoological mystery. Since 1981 PAUL CROPPER and TONY HEALY have collaborated on many projects. Over the past 30 years they have searched for lake monsters, hairy giants, out-of-place big cats and other semi-legendary animals in Fiji, North America, the Bahamas, Iceland, Ireland, Great Britain, Nepal, Malaysia and in every state and territory of Australia.
- GenresCryptozoologyBigfoot
336 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2006
19 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 12, 2015
I'll admit it. I'm a Sasquatch believer. It might be hard for the creature to hide in the Pacific Northwest forests, but I keep thinking back to creatures and tribes that have been suddenly found although they've been around for quite a while. I know, I know. Most of you think I'm crazy...
This book simply supports that belief. It actually seem more logical that a Bigfoot creature should exist in Australia than in other parts of the world. Look at the weird creatures the continent has produced: emus, wombats, platypuses, kangaroos, you name it. So it seems more than likely that a creature like Bigfoot would have been stranded here and developed into what we know (and love?) today.
The authors do an excellent job in their research, much much better than the American ones do. They take the stories back into the 1800s and spend time with the Aborigines finding out as much as they can about their legends concerning this type of creature. They don't automatically accept reports (after all, witness statements can be way off the mark). But they do list all of the reports (with text) given in newspapers, personally or second person from the 1800s on. This results in over 200 reports. Some are obvious hoaxes and the authors report them as such. When possible, they interviewed the witness personally. In a few cases, more than one person (in one case, 20) people saw the creature.
They are very "scientific" in their approach. Fewer tracks are seen in Aussie Land and almost none have been cast as we do in the States. However, what appear to be Yowie "nests" have been found and photographed. At least one couple reported that they have had frequent Yowie visits over the past 20 years (this made me wonder if the visits had stopped and, if not, why one of the investigators didn't move in with them for a while to try to confirm). They also point out the obvious differences in reports - some people saw green eyes, some saw red. Some say the creature was over 6 foot, some say it was average human size. Some say it was agressive, some say it was very shy.
Anyhow, the book is written in a straight forward manner and constantly reminds readers that they understand that skeptics abound. They never come down and say the creature MUST exist but they feel that the evidence they have definitely points to "something" out there.
Now I want to go sit in the highest "population" areas in Australia and see if I can find one myself!
This book simply supports that belief. It actually seem more logical that a Bigfoot creature should exist in Australia than in other parts of the world. Look at the weird creatures the continent has produced: emus, wombats, platypuses, kangaroos, you name it. So it seems more than likely that a creature like Bigfoot would have been stranded here and developed into what we know (and love?) today.
The authors do an excellent job in their research, much much better than the American ones do. They take the stories back into the 1800s and spend time with the Aborigines finding out as much as they can about their legends concerning this type of creature. They don't automatically accept reports (after all, witness statements can be way off the mark). But they do list all of the reports (with text) given in newspapers, personally or second person from the 1800s on. This results in over 200 reports. Some are obvious hoaxes and the authors report them as such. When possible, they interviewed the witness personally. In a few cases, more than one person (in one case, 20) people saw the creature.
They are very "scientific" in their approach. Fewer tracks are seen in Aussie Land and almost none have been cast as we do in the States. However, what appear to be Yowie "nests" have been found and photographed. At least one couple reported that they have had frequent Yowie visits over the past 20 years (this made me wonder if the visits had stopped and, if not, why one of the investigators didn't move in with them for a while to try to confirm). They also point out the obvious differences in reports - some people saw green eyes, some saw red. Some say the creature was over 6 foot, some say it was average human size. Some say it was agressive, some say it was very shy.
Anyhow, the book is written in a straight forward manner and constantly reminds readers that they understand that skeptics abound. They never come down and say the creature MUST exist but they feel that the evidence they have definitely points to "something" out there.
Now I want to go sit in the highest "population" areas in Australia and see if I can find one myself!
January 28, 2024
Loved it. I've been fascinated with yowies since my teacher read us Turramulli in grade 3. Couldn't wait to read and was probably the best book out there about yowies. I can't wait to lend to more skeptical family members. Was fascinated to learn that both Mullumbimby and Nimbin are named for Junjudees.
But, I just wanted to highlight that leading theory that Yowies and Sasquatch may be descendants of Paranthropus Robustus or Boisei was left out. Personally, I think this genus is the leading contender for their lineages.
Also, it was discussed in the book HOW both the little and big hairy men could have made it to Australia. It was never mentioned that PNG was once connected to the Australian mainland (Sundaland) and that the ocean levels were so low at some points you could wade across the islands. Tsunamis don't have to be the only way they could have made it here. Otherwise logically we would have more Indonesian animals here - such as Komodo dragons (for eg).
If Yowies are observed to be able to swim and dive under water, there's no reason why they couldn't hop over to Australia via PNG like other animals and humans. PNG also have stories of the hairy man.
Otherwise, awesome book about one of my favourite subjects.
But, I just wanted to highlight that leading theory that Yowies and Sasquatch may be descendants of Paranthropus Robustus or Boisei was left out. Personally, I think this genus is the leading contender for their lineages.
Also, it was discussed in the book HOW both the little and big hairy men could have made it to Australia. It was never mentioned that PNG was once connected to the Australian mainland (Sundaland) and that the ocean levels were so low at some points you could wade across the islands. Tsunamis don't have to be the only way they could have made it here. Otherwise logically we would have more Indonesian animals here - such as Komodo dragons (for eg).
If Yowies are observed to be able to swim and dive under water, there's no reason why they couldn't hop over to Australia via PNG like other animals and humans. PNG also have stories of the hairy man.
Otherwise, awesome book about one of my favourite subjects.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 13, 2024
Pretty fun read. Its basically a collection of anecdotal sightings, with the authors trying to piece together what the truth about this legend might be. Spoiler alert; I don't think Yowies exist. We have no physical evidence they do or ever have existed. However, I wouldn't rule out that at some point something resembling them did exist. Indigenous Australian lore about the thing is pretty widespread along south east Australia and even WA.
7/10
7/10
November 27, 2025
An in-depth and fun read about the history of Australia's bigfoot, the Yowie!
January 24, 2022
I've read this book three times. Each time I was amazed at the exhaustive research conducted by Mr. Healy about a hairy hominid/cryptid that too little is heard about, because it is on another continent. Yet the yowie, as it is called, is one of many such creatures, which have been sighted around the world. It's the subtle differences in behavior that make this variety of Sasquatch-type creatures intriguing and the fact that its history is so vast and carefully calculated. The accounts and speculation are quite compelling. If you collect books on cryptozoology, you would be wise to include this volume.
July 3, 2014
This is going to sound funny, but I was enjoying this book immensely, right up until the mention of UFOs. I know, I know; I can entertain the notion that Yowies might exist, but not aliens. Go figure!
That being said, the majority of the book, especially the retelling of eye-witness reports, was a fascinating read and I am slightly loathed to give it only three stars, but once the far flung theories of UFOs and inter-dimensional travel came into play, I just lost interest. It sounded like something Giorgio Tsoukalos would endorse.
That being said, the majority of the book, especially the retelling of eye-witness reports, was a fascinating read and I am slightly loathed to give it only three stars, but once the far flung theories of UFOs and inter-dimensional travel came into play, I just lost interest. It sounded like something Giorgio Tsoukalos would endorse.
January 15, 2016
I read about the yowie in something else and went searching for something more in depth - I'm so glad I did! There is a great warmth and humour to this book, which will make it a fun read no matter where you are on the belief spectrum. Even better is the exhaustive research and compelling eye witness accounts presented. I went from knowing next to nothing about the yowie to a dubious believer.
November 30, 2014
I was enjoying this book,untill UFO's & interdimensional travel sneaked in. I think they were trying to explore all explanations of the phenomena. The personal accounts are interesting as is the aboriginal history. All in all a nice read, I'd recommend.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews