Whowie facts for kids
| Grouping | Legendary creature |
|---|---|
| Sub grouping | Reptile |
| Mythology | Australian Aboriginal mythology |
| Country | Australia |
| Region | Riverina, South Australia |
| Habitat | Riverbanks |
The Whowie is a scary creature from Australian Aboriginal mythology. It looks like a giant goanna (a type of lizard) but with a huge frog-shaped head and six strong legs! This mythical beast was said to be seven meters long.
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Meet the Whowie
The Whowie was a fearsome creature. It lived in a cave near the Murray River. This cave went deep underground. When the Whowie walked outside its cave, its heavy steps created the sandhills in the Riverina area. Even though the Whowie moved slowly, it was very sneaky. It could eat a whole tribe of people in just one meal!
The Whowie's Story
The water rat tribe, also known as the rakali, had suffered enough from the Whowie. They decided to do something about it. They asked all the tribes nearby to gather spears, stone axes, waddies (wooden clubs), and many bundles of sticks.
The tribes waited until the Whowie was deep inside its cave. Then, they piled the bundles of sticks at the cave entrance. They set the sticks on fire! For seven days, the fire burned. Finally, the Whowie came out. It was blind and confused from all the smoke. The tribes then used their weapons to kill the Whowie. They freed the land from this terrible monster.
Where Did the Myth Come From?
Some people think the story of the Whowie might have come from real encounters with ancient Australian animals. These animals were part of the "megafauna," which means very large animals that lived long ago. One possible animal that inspired the Whowie myth is the Megalania. The Megalania was a giant lizard that lived in Australia thousands of years ago.
The Whowie's Cave Today
In 2021, a person named Karl Brandt wrote an article in Caves Australia. He suggested that the Punyelroo Cave could be the Whowie's lair. This cave is in South Australia.
The first person to write down the Whowie story was David Unaipon. He collected traditional tales from his own people, the Ngarrindjeri. They lived near the lower Murray River in South Australia. The Punyelroo Cave stretches for about three kilometers into a sandstone cliff by the river. No other large cave system has been found on the Murray River in New South Wales.
See also
- Mungoon-Gali, another giant goanna from Australian Aboriginal mythology
