by Oubliette

Just in time for Halloween, this episode of Destination Truth whisks us away to  mysterious and beautiful Romania, as the team goes in search of that staple of many a horror movie, the werewolf.  Although the concept of a “man wolf” has existed throughout the centuries in such far flung places as China, Iceland and Brazil, it has also been a part of Romanian folklore and belief stretching far back into the mists of time.

Descriptions of werewolves and their characteristics differ widely.  Some cultures believe that it is only the full moon which causes an unfortunate individual to turn into this beast, while in other places, it can alter itself at will.  Werewolves have been known to be benevolent as well as frightening.  There even seems to be a relationship between the werewolf and the Native American “shape shifter”.  Whatever its roots, there is no doubt that this strange half-man/half-beast has captured the imagination of people from across the globe.

According to recent reports, the inhabitants of some remote Romanian villages have been reporting sightings of werewolves. So strong is the belief in these creatures that a remote mountain village near the town of Brad was abandoned by its inhabitants rather than continue to live in fear of attack by these frightening monsters.  We also learn that recently a corpse was dug up and the heart removed and eaten, along with other gruesome acts.  I have to admit that I could not find anything on this incident regarding a werewolf.  However, in 2005 members of the Marinescu family were arrested for trying to lay a supposed vampire to rest, performing a gruesome, centuries old ritual.  Perhaps Josh was misinformed, or the incident was mentioned to show that belief in supernatural beings still hold sway in the remote mountain villages.  At any rate, this is perfect Halloween material.

The werewolf in question roams the isolated forests of remote Romania at night, its dark coat providing camouflage.  The DT software rendition shows a canine that shares many typical features of the common wolf but possesses an extremely broad chest, far larger than any known members of the canidae.  It will often rise up on its hind legs in order to attack its victim.  This frightening creature also produces an eerie howl that can be heard for miles.

So it’s off to Romania where they land in Bucharest, already encountering problems.  Besides finding their luggage in less than pristine condition, the team is detained by customs, probably due to the nature and amount of their equipment.  As usual, Josh can find humor in almost any situation, and remarks that “this is what happens when you mark purpose of visit: Werewolf Hunter”.

After a stroll through this beautiful city, Josh talks to Ion Ghinoiu, a professor at Academia Romana.  With the aid of a translator, Floriana Sando,  we learn just how ancient the belief in werewolves exists in Romania, even up to the present day.  Ghinoiu advises Josh to travel deep into the deep, forested backwoods in order to track down this fabled beast.  Unfortunately, there is only one train available with which to make the journey, and its departure will be in 30 minutes!

Fun time ensues as the gang makes every effort to purchase tickets and board the train in time.  For some reason, Jael’s ability to speak Italian comes in handy when ordering tickets.  I have a suspicion that the fellow who came up to the counter beside her might have had more to do by way of translation, but at any rate they do manage to hop on the very packed train.  Josh does not find the Romanian super models he is looking for, but the abundant hair on Mike’s arm provides a moment of hilarity.

Their destination is the province of Sibiu, high up in the Transylvanian mountains.  We are treated to some awesome views just outside the train’s cracked windshield.  Even in daylight, the landscape has a mystique about it.  In a land where Vlad the Impaler ruled and vampires are said to roam, even an unbeliever cannot help but notice the mysterious aura of this country.  It is truly like traveling back in time.

At the Morticia–um, that is, Moritica B & B–the team finds lodging and food for the night.  There’s no doubt that no effort was spared in setting up a delightful evening that displayed the local fun and entertainment for the show’s cameras.  It was enjoyable to watch the native dancers and musicians strut their stuff, and equally hilarious to see our intrepid team’s dance moves as well, which weren’t half bad.  To top it all off, there’s even Werewolf Wine.  How good does it get?  (Hint: attempt to promote tourism but hey, I‘d go.)

The lodge keeper, Coldea Sorin, suggests that Josh travel north to Brad, where recent sightings have been reported.  He also describes a large cave in the mountains where the inhabitants believe the werewolf lives.  So the following morning the team reaches this nearly 2,000 year old village. It is truly a step back in time, like a page out of a storybook.  In order to acquaint themselves with the appearance of actual local wolves so that this animal will not be confused with any other they might see, Josh and team visit the town’s zoo, the Gradina Zoologica.  I must say the wolves are beautiful, and although Josh jokingly comments about the safety precautions-or lack thereof-these canines are far from the ferocious beasts that so permeate the popular mindset.  And no Josh, no fur coat.  These guys are way too cute

Two residents, Mihai Jorge and Tamasco Joan confirm that a nearby village had  been abandoned due to fear of a werewolf.  They must go higher up into the mountains to see the now empty buildings and locate the large cave where the creature supposedly lives.   The site of the village is marked by a stone cross, and after an exciting and dangerous climb up a sheer cliff face, they manage to find the huge and very imposing cave.  Josh breaks the team up and sends them off in different directions to explore the interior.  He himself takes Evan and Mike with him into the darkness.

To be honest, this looks like the perfect wolf lair, and Josh does discover claw marks on the ground.  Further on, he calls Evan over to see a wonderful discovery-a cache of pre-Roman bones (wonder how he can tell, although I know that he is an experienced archeologist).  Nearby is a clump of fur, which is bagged for later analysis.  Because of the dangerous conditions in the cave with its many small holes, Josh instructs everyone to return to the surface.  It is going to be difficult to navigate the winding trails in the dark, but luck is with them this time.

A  friendly villager lets the DT team hop aboard his horse drawn wagon (sport model, natural A/C and keyless entry) for a rough and tumble ride up to the site of the stone cross.  (Did they have to descend down the cliff?)  Base camp is set up close by with the usual perimeter of IR cameras that are baited with raw meat. Josh then explains that their mission is to see if there is any evidence that an actual, unknown animal is responsible for the reported sightings of a ferocious wolf like beast.

The team is again split up, this time leaving Rex by himself at the camp.  For the first time we get to see Sharra go off with Josh (Sharra finally gets a chance to join the fun).  As it begins to snow, an image appears on the FLIR, and seems to be walking along a nearby river.  Josh excitedly calls Evan closer but by the time they reach the spot, whatever was responsible for the shape near the water had disappeared.

They next come across some old buildings, including a chapel, and conclude that they have reached the abandoned village.  The buildings show evidence of a hurried exit by its inhabitants.  Clothes are still strewn about and rugs still remain on the floors.  Because the structures are so decrepit, Josh decides not to investigate them further.

Deep in the woods, Jael and Bicha hear a sound that they can’t identify.  Further on, they discover a huge foot or hand print but Jael begins to feel ill, cold and faint.   This necessitates a return to base camp, where Bicha and Sharra will stay with her while Josh and the other guys go off to see what they can make of the footprint.  And it is odd indeed.  For a moment I thought at least the large one was possibly that of a bear, especially with the large heel print.  In any case, casts are taken for further analyses.

Suddenly a creepy howl is heard nearby and Evan spots two glowing eyes.  As the guys run to try and discover what is staring at them, Evan, caught up in the excitement, doesn’t realize there is a drop off in front of him.  He falls hard, and I really thought the first broken bones of the season had just occurred.  Fortunately his injuries are not serious but it was a scary moment nonetheless.

Back home, an examination of the fur indicates that it came from a Romanian wolf, a conclusion which probably surprised no one, including the viewers.  The casts of the footprints were taken to mammologist  Dr. Jim Dines of the Los Angeles Museum of Natural History.  He definitively identified them as canine, and so we are probably looking at evidence of wolves in the area.  Although I recall a few years ago, writer and radio DJ Alan Robson of the UK had set off into the Transylvanian woods by himself at night and was attacked by a pack of wild dogs.  So they too remain possible candidates for some of the evidence the DT team collected.

The photo of the large paw print is more problematic.  To be honest, I can’t help but think it might be a bear; specifically, a European brown bear.  It is the large heel which so perplexed the team that has led me to that conclusion.  The general outline also, in my opinion, lends some credence to this view.  How large the print is generally varies by species.  Here’s an example:

This episode of DT was, once again, not so much about proving a legend so much as disproving it.  It is also indicative of how an intense belief in a mythical being, be it werewolf or vampire, can still persist in remoter corners of the world.  Personally I am fascinated by Romania in general and Transylvania in particular.  It is no wonder that the mysterious mountains and heavily forested woodlands of this country evoke images of the supernatural, or still hold the impressions of one of its greatest and cruelest rulers, Vlad Dracula.  It is a place that can certainly give one pause when it comes to considering whether a werewolf or other fabled creature might really exist within its dark and dangerous reaches.

But for now, we can probably safely put to rest the idea that a large, wolflike cryptid is frightening the inhabitants of these remote mountains.  The spell this environment casts on humans, as well as the often dangerous wild animals that exist almost at the villagers’ doorsteps, provide a logical explanation for the werewolf of Romania.

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