Texas couple who claim to have captured live chupacabra euthanise the animal
Local wildlife experts said the animal was suffering from a mange disease
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A Texas couple who claimed to have captured a live chupacabra have since euthanised the creature after being advised it was suffering.
The Ratcliff-based family said they caught the mythical creature with a reputation for sucking blood from livestock across America, after it wandered into their back garden.
The somewhat unlikely tale began when Jackie Stock and her husband Bubba discovered a growling, hairless animal eating corn in one of their trees.
Bubba captured the wrinkly beast and locked it in a cage, but later decided to put it down after being advised the animal was suffering from mange.
"We were just trying to figure out what it is because we've never seen anything like it before,” Ms Stock said at the time.
Wildlife Diversity Biologist Brent Ortego from Texas Parks and Wildlife told network KAVU that the animal was most likely to be "some form of canine".
“I had gotten attached,” Ms Stock told TMZ after. “ I was calling him Chupie. He will be missed.”
Ms Stock said she had received several complaints from animal rights campaigners because the creature was being kept in a cage.
A DeWitt County game warden allegedly told Ms Stock that it was illegal to keep the animal in captivity, according to the Department's spokesman, Josh Havens.
Mr Havens told the New York Daily News he had instructed the couple to either euthanise the animal or release it.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments