Unseen Buenos Aires- Costanera's Reservito and The Hounds of the Baskerville

Every city, from high rise metropolis to oak build suburbs, should have their own particular preternatural mascot; their endemic cryptozoological enigma. That peculiarity that gives the shiny sidewalk, and smell of urban habitation, an air of engrossing mystery; a touch of: ‘The what if?’ Scotland has Nessie, New Jersey is home to the Devil, Puerto Rico to the Chupacabra, Virginia to the Mothman, and so forth. The list is interminable.

Continuing with this tradition, Buenos Aires, one of the largest megalopolis in the world, holds its own little pet: ‘Reservito.’

These beastial large dogs, with traits similar to the now extinct Thylacine or Tasmanian Tiger, have, supposedly, carved out their habitat out of the densely populated, and nouveau riche, coast of the city. Particularly in the north and south reserve that encapsulate, at each peaked end, the 15km scenic boardwalk, suitably named: ‘La Costanera.’

Their carnivorous nature for speculation, plus eye witness accounts have given fame to their prodigious and feral attitude towards man, have daily haunted the populated local; using the falling sun, and the coming of twilight, as the preferred occasion for their wild hunts. They have been seen stalking their prey along the switchbacks of the river’s bend, or among the high brown grasslands of the protected environmental park, and even on rare occasions they have expanded their territory to the shadowed streets, of steel and glass platted juggernaut buildings, that loom close to the marshy areas.

Their existence, or for that matter, the existence of a colony of such creature, has largely passed unnoticed by local officials. They simply consign it the necessary level of skepticism require to blot out the problem. So far its, very dubious, presence has largely been observed by transients, vagabonds, joggers, environmentalist and sightseers. 

One of the leading characteristics and supernatural myths behind its existence is the theory that ‘Reservito’ is not a carnal animal, but a specter of sorts. A ghost that harasses the Buenos Aires coastline. This spiritual undertone would, in part, solve the dilemma encompassing its uncanny prowess to evaporate into thin air; his, almost, metaphysical ability to blend into the background and evade detection. 

Still, another trait that lends credence to this idea, is the ominous deviltry that arrises as a consequence of its manifestation. To those who bare witness to Reservito’s figure, an onslaught of misfortune, even death, befalls on them a few days later. Its appearance is highly regarded as portent of ill-regard and calamity. A motif that is evident and constantly repeated in every culture and mythological system to date. 

The stereotype of a figure, or ghost, normally a black canine; a hellhound, that scavenges crossroads, or places of executions, or ancient pathways for dammed souls, has existed since primordial times.

Normally these creatures are associated with some greater evil. They are though of as servants, or familiars, of witches, vampires and even Beelzebub himself. On foggy moors, smoked soaked graveyards, or lightning drenched beaches, their vile apparition is a constant heartache on troubled citizens.

A few examples of Reservito in the historical records are: Black Shuck from Suffolk, The Gurt Dog in Somerset, The Black Dog of Hanging Hills, Cŵn Annwn of Wales, Tibiciena of the Canary Islands, The Bogey Beast of Lancashire, Nahaul of Mexico, El Perro Negro and Lobizon of Paraguay, and countless others.

Perhaps, the most famous example of this sort of paranormal anomaly, or superstitious construct and archetypical depiction, is the fable that inspired one of the most beloved novels of our time. On the 5th of July, 1677, in Devon, a county of England, a diabolically evil man, maybe even the un-triad killer of his own wife, Squire Richard Cabell, befell to the reaper’s scythe. Legends, and the town’s gossip mill, would have travelers belief that he had bargained his soul to Satan for immortality. On the first nigh of his eternal rest a pack of wild black dogs were spotted baying across the moor to howl at his sepulcher and claw endlessly at his tomb. Villagers have, to this day, seen this foul man stalk the woods while leading a troop of hungry redeye mastiffs; hunting for lost game and weary tourists.

Devon superstition claims that each one of the specter’s dogs is a baby who died before being baptize. They are misplaced phantoms who were never cleansed of the original sin. They have taken to calling the beasts: Yeth Hounds. 

A writer, by the name of Sir. Arthur Conan Doyle, was terrified when he heard such a grim tale and, like most artists, he decided to purge himself of the stain through his pen. The Cathartic masterpiece would become the classic Sherlock Holme’s story: “The Hounds of the Baskervilles.”

A clear example of unfounded fears, and cult beliefs, swaying the world in their tune.

In Buenos Aires, it has become a pastime for fanatics of the macabre to explore the littoral and shoreline for the elusive Reservito; never thinking, for once, what curse they may awaken, if their dream of sighting him was ever granted.

Excerpt: The Wraith of The Obelisk- L.J. Gomez.