An amphibious being that lurks in the inland waters of Australia, the mysterious, deadly bunyip defies consistent characterization. Also known as the Mulyawonk, some stories say it's a four-legged creature resembling a seal, others claim the monster has shaggy hair and appears to be a combination of other animals. But one thing that is constant in the stories of the bunyip —the role of Aboriginal storytelling and culture. Originating in the stories and beliefs of the southeastern Indigenous peoples of Australia, accounts of the bunyip are widely varied but were told with such conviction that European colonizers initially believed such a creature really existed. This episode uses Aboriginal stories, historical records, and fossils to explore the bunyip legend, and take a look at how European colonization impacted Australia and its Indigenous peoples.