http://www.ramsar.org/cda/en/ramsar-activities-cepa/main/ramsar/1-63-69_4000_0__
http://www.ramsar.org/
FUNDACIÓN MONTECITO
http://fundacionmontecito.blogspot.com.br/2012/12/monstruos-de-humedales.html
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WETLAND MONSTERS – STORIES FROM THE CEPA ELIST
DECEMBER 2012
This is a summary of an interesting discussion topic on the CEPA elists (in English, French and Spanish) following a request from Felipe Velasco for information about wetland monsters for their potential use in raising awareness about wetlands. There are many references below shared by list members from all over the world of the existence in folklore of wetland creatures, good ones, bad ones and everything in between. While some people are enthusiastic about wetland monsters others warn that in some particular cultures, and in some sectors of society (for example rural versus urban) using these for communication purposes may be insensitive and unlikely to succeed. Others feel there is potential to use these monsters in positive ways to benefit wetlands.
Whatever you believe, the many posts reproduce below present a significant resource for monster enthusiasts and an opportunity to draw upon these for communication purposes. Thanks to all of you for your responses.
The request for information sent to the list:
Hi wetland-monster lovers! Well, I am new to wetland monsters and have begun with the Lake Tota monster (more here
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monstruo_del_Lago_de_Tota) which is probably even older than the famous Nessie, the Loch Ness monster. I hope you are also a wetland monster lover since it is good to keep our ‘child spirit’ alive.
I believe these kinds of stories may help to build awareness about our wetlands and they can be a powerful tool for education for children at wetland centres and schools. Our Lake Tota monster has been referred to since 1652, but he (or she!) has been sleeping for many years. Now we plan to bring him back to life again as a wetland mystery attraction - and as a 'metaphor for current wetland threats'.
Perhaps we can set wetland monsters in a worldwide context so my question to CEPA list members is this - do you know other wetland-monster stories or legends (apart from Nessie or the Lake Tota monster) and can you supply some weblinks to more information?
Director, Fundación Montecito (FMontecito) Sogamoso, Colombia
The responses from CEPA list members
1. Grégoire Macqueron
Chargé de mission Zones humides, Zones Humides Infos
Correspondant ONG pour la CESP de Ramsar en France
In french, a festival monstrously funny where monsters are invited to Leman Lake: “Eaux monstres” (a pun between “water monster” and “Help! Monster”).
I don’t know if it can be useful, but there are many stories in France on such monsters.
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2. David A. Stroud
Senior Ornithologist, UK Joint Nature Conservation Committee
And don’t forget Swamp Thing!
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3. Harban Singh, Malaysia
While this monster thing sounds interesting & maybe a way to attract more visitors to the wetlands watch the reverse too. In some nations and cultures, people are very superstitious & monsters may be a taboo word and because of the "adverse effect of monsters perception" may even stop visiting wetlands.
Be discerning & discreet huh!!
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4. Namakula Regina Ceali
CEPA Gov Focal Point, Wetlands Management Department, Uganda
In my case I am still establishing the equivalent of Wetland Monsters in Africa and particularly in Uganda and how it would impact on our young generation.
The impact may defer depending on the background of the 'audience'. While some in the urban setting and in high class life may have fun getting such story, a person from the rural setting may respond different. BUT-this is worth trying and testing. Am also waiting to hear from other folk.
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5. Jenny Lonnstad
CEPA Gov Focal Point, Advisor, Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
In Sweden we have the monster ”Storsjöodjuret” (literally “The Great-lake monster”) living in Storsjön (the great lake). The first written record is from 1635, but the legend is probably older. The monster has also been a locally protected species by a legal decision 1986-2005!
http://www.jamtli.com/8169.storsjoodjuret.html (translation to a number of languages, choose in the box where it says “svenska”, unfortunately the name of the languages is in Swedish but they are often similar to the English ones, Spanish=spanska.
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6. Stefan Bohórquez G.
Punto Focal Civil Ramsar, Ecuador
Existe en Ecuador un complejo de lagunas alto-andinas conocidas como Ozogoche y situadas dentro del Parque Nacional Sangay- donde no se habla de un monstruo, pero sí de leyendas acerca del suicidio que cometen pájaros migratorios –conocidos acá como Cuvivíes (Bartramia Longicauda)- en ofrenda a SUPAY, el Dios-Diablo de los indígenas de la zona, siempre la tercera semana del mes de septiembre.
Estas leyendas son anteriores a conquista de nuestros territorios por los españoles y algunas versiones cuentan de columnas de aguas que se levantan para capturar en vuelo a las aves.
Lo cierto es que ese fenómeno ocurre cada año en las lagunas de Ozogoche y la explicación tiene que ver con la fatiga que sufren las aves en el páramo ecuatoriano, cuando ascienden a más de 3.800 metros de altura, en su viaje hacia Chile. Los indígenas de la zona han establecido rituales acerca de este evento y recogen las ves que llegan flotando hasta las orillas para su alimentación, como si fuese una ofrenda, a su vez, que hacen los dioses a los habitantes de la zona.
Fragmento de un relato de ancianos del lugar:
“A mediados de septiembre se daba el día del tributo sagrado. El cielo se tornaba gris y en los montes, el sonido del viento se opacaba con los aullidos del lobo; el supay (diablo) se quejaba como ashcu (perro). De pronto surcaban el espacio cientos de cuvivíes (aves) con su inconfundible canto de dolor y, en un instante indeterminado, se precipitaban a las heladas aguas en un tributo ancestral, cósmico y misterioso. A la mañana siguiente, los campesinos recogían en canastas y costales los cuerpos de las aves suicidas de las orillas de las lagunas del Cuyo, Atillo y Ozogoche”.
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7. Shelley Cant-Woodside
Bahamas National Trust
I have to agree with the concerns raised by Harban Singh from Malaysia. I try very hard to reduce the negative impacts that these “monster” stories have had on the perception of wetlands and blueholes in the Bahamas. People regard them as dangerous places that should either be filled in or caged from the public.
In our country there is a bit of a culture where parents tell children horrifying stories about natural areas to keep them away from these places, it is used as a form of control. As a result it has had a negative perception on wilderness as a whole. It is something that I have to counteract everyday.
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8. Kim Diana Connolly
CEPA Gov Focal point, Professor of Law, SUNY Buffalo Law School, NY, USA
What an interesting discussion!
Here in the United States (where I am honored to serve on the US National Ramsar Committee) there is a lot of anti-wetland rhetoric at a political level. I would wonder if a public discussion of fanciful wetland monsters would serve to intrigue people/voters, or be used as part of the negative campaign against these valuable resources in some way.
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9. Michèle Sato
in the brazilian amazonian there is a big snake called ANACONDA - mainly in the amazon river. most of people tell terrible histories about it, however, local communities believe it protects the water.
here in mato grosso, also amazonia, but there is another ecosystem called pantanal (brazilian wetland - ramsar) there is a huge worm called MINHOCÃO (big worm). people tell us it also protects the water.
there many other mythologies, but in relation to monster and water ANACONDA and MINHOCÃO are very traditional. you may find some pictures and histories (portuguese) at:
legends, myths and folks in brazil USUALLY help the nature, they are all connected and benefit the environment. even the monster, they are scared to the people who destroy the nature.
i work with indigenous mythology and for them, myth is not a lie -- neither children story. for the indigenous, myth is existence. the cosmologies and believes based on myth are VERY MUCH important!
besides, the myth helps to give a sort of mystery and may call the attention of the tourists. well, at least in brazil!
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10. Christine Prietto
CEPA NGO Focal Point, Australia
What about Kappa, the Japanese River Monster?
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11. Brij Gopal and D.P. Zutshi
In India, according to a legend, Kashmir valley was originally a lake, known as “Satisar”. In the lake resided a (monster) demon ‘Jalodbhava’ who caused great distress to people in the neighbourhood. People requested the sage, Rishi Kashyap to save them from the demon. The sage cut a deep gorge in the northwest and drained the lake, eventually killing the demon. Later, the descendants of Kashyap Rishi inhabited the valley that was hence named Kashmir.
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12. Rebecca D’Cruz
Malaysia
Here in Malaysia, we have our own lake monster in the country's second largest natural lake:
Chini Lake
Tasek (Lake) Chini Giant Snake
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13. Shirley Bethune
CEPA NGO Focal Point, Namibia
We don’t [have water monsters] but I know Sweden does in a lake near Orsa I think, maybe a Swede can give you the details - they even have a young one in a jar in the museum ... Regards from Namibia, the land of dry lakes.
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14. Guillermo Federico Lingua
CEPA Government Focal Point, Grupo de Trabajo sobre Recursos Acuáticos, Coordinador, Argentina
Aquí les adjunto un link a una página que describe muy bien la situación de nuestro “Nahuelito” o como lo llamaban los habitantes originarios “El Cuero”; un misterioso monstruo que habita o habitaba en el Lago Nahuel Huapi (Provincias de Río Negro Neuquén, Argentina).
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15. Katie Belfuss
Wisconsin Wetlands Association, USA
Thanks for offering to put together a summary of the responses to this monster post. I'll be glad to have that, as I'm working to find someone to write an article for our newsletter about these posts for our Halloween newsletter issue next fall. How fun! Interesting how different (yet how similar) some of these traditions are.
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16. Patrick Lynch
Como dijo Guillermo, tenemos acá en Chile tanto en Argentina la historia del Cuero, que se llama en mapundungun Trelke Wekufe. Claro que hay una discurso amplio sobre el origen de este monstruo, pero por ahora es muy conocido por todo lado en esas zonas.
Entre otros puntos que vale la pena mencionar, creo que uno que puede ser muy importante de ampliar es el punto que hay muchos lugares (humedales, ríos, lagos aislados como en la cordillera de los Andes) que son muy pocos investigados, por eso existe varias leyendas y explicaciones no científicos que a veces duran por siglos en la conciencia y la cultural de la zona y da su fuerza a los sueños de asimismo. Entonces la idea de cada 'monstruo' puede ser un tesoro para un país incluso si es peligroso o da miedo a la gente, creo que es muy fuerte, porque ofrece una oportunidad de que llega otra gente del extranjero para investigarlo y ver con sus propios ojos cual es la situación real. Cada país debe celebrar esos monstruos y diseminar las historias, para fortalecer la investigación y colaboración en desarrollar y proteger sus zonas acuáticas junto con académicos, artistas y otros profesionales hasta todo tipo de aventurero. Igual nosotros como ambientalistas podemos pensar en como podemos lograr nuestros objetivos de conservación y protección ambiental gracias a los monstruos los cuales habitan en los cuerpos de agua.
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17. Rahat Najam
Environment specialist, WSIP-PCMU, Pakistan
We have many wetland monsters and legend stories like one beautiful lake in northern areas of Pakistan. Lake safe ul mulk which is called as fairy mountains lakes. It is a myth that on 14th of every full moon the fairies coming down in the lake and perform dances. Locals reported that they are witnessed. Many newly married couples try to visit this lake as honey moon place. It still has magical beauty. Beside that it is the myth that blind river indus dolphin was a beautiful women and she was punished By head of village and she become blind dolphin. I will search similar other stories will share with all colleagues.
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18. Jorge Liotta
Quisiera compartir con ustedes otra historia de monstruos de humedales. Ésta es una ampliamente conocida, y que goza de buena salud en la cultura ribereña del río Paraná.
Se trata del Yaguarón, ser gigante con cabeza de perro, cuerpo de serpiente y cola de pez, que habita en cuevas bajo el río. Provoca derrumbes y devora animales y personas. Emite profundos bramidos y rugidos. Encontrarán muchas referencias en la web.
Es tan emblemático en nuestra región, que en la ciudad donde vivo (San Nicolás de los Arroyos), tenemos un arroyo, un barrio, un grupo de ballet, un hotel y un restaurante con ese nombre. El “monstruo” ha dado tema además, a varias exposiciones de plástica, poemas, novelas y aun excelentes obras de títeres.
Varios autores narran la leyenda, y destaco sobre todo un libro generado por la Fundación Óga: “Mitos y leyendas del río, el campo y la ciudad”, de Damián Voglino (Editorial Continente). En él se transcriben entrevistas hechas por el autor a pobladores de la región, quienes relatan experiencias y encuentros referidos a éste y a otros seres de los humedales del delta del río Paraná.
Todos los años, una cantidad de docentes utilizan a la leyenda del Yaguarón como material para sus clases, y muchos escolares disfrutan de la narración de la historia en las visitas guiadas que efectuamos en el Museo de Ciencias Naturales "Rvdo. P. Antonio Scasso".
Una aclaración: no creo que debamos reducir estos elementos a ser parte de nuestro “espíritu infantil”. Temo que catalogando de este modo a los seres sobrenaturales de los humedales no logremos más que caricaturizarlos, y desperdiciemos así uno de nuestros vínculos ancestrales y profundos con los ambientes regionales. Muchas representaciones y seres forman parte de las culturas de los pueblos originarios, así como de la nuestra (criolla), y opino que deben ser respetados como tales.
19. Makiko YANAGIYA
CEPA Gov Focal Point, Nature Conservation Bureau, Japan
Just for your reference,
Here in Japan, we have “Kappa” as the original monster lives in wetland.
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20. Irina Kammenova
CEPA NGO Focal Point, WWF Russia
Perhaps, it is not even complete. I know that in Slavic mythology, there are also creatures who live in peatlands called ‘bolotnik’, ‘bagnik’, ‘orzhavinik’ and ‘virovnik’.
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21. Nathalie Fearon
CEPA Gov Focal Point; Manager, Public Education and Corporate Communication
National Environment and Planning Agency
Jamaican folklore includes River Mumma, a female water spirit who it is said guards the source of many of our rivers. She may sometimes be seen sitting on a rock in the river, combing her hair with a golden comb. She sometimes leaves her comb on a rock, to entice victims whom she then draws into the water.
During slavery, sacrifices were made to the River Mumma in times of drought, or when someone wanted to cross the river she was guarding. The fish form that part of the river would not be eaten, as these were said to be her children. River Mumma is often associated with the legend of the Golden Table, one of the popular Jamaican folk tales.
The Legend of the Golden Table states that a table of pure gold lies at the bottom of certain rivers, usually at the river head (source). It rises briefly to the surface from time to time, usually at noon. It is said that those who see the table become obsessed with the desire to obtain it. However, any efforts to do so usual ends in disaster.
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22. Christophe
Tourenq
Banrock Station Ramsar Site, Wetland Manager, Australia
www.banrockstation.com.au
Very interesting topic!
In Australia, along the Murray River, lives
the bunyip, or kianpraty, a large mythical creature from Aboriginal mythology,
living in swamps, billabongs, creeks, riverbeds, and waterholes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunyip
Interestingly, Bazza the Bunyip is nowadays
the main character of an eco-campaign to raise awareness and educate the
community about the importance of protecting SA’s lifeline, the River Murray!
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