The Iquique Giant Bat (or Iquique Gargoyle) is the name given to a strange, winged creature reported by civilians and Carabineros (the Chilean national police) in northern Chile. The most notable sighting took place on December 23, 2010, in the port city of Iquique, prompting fear and speculation due to its unusual appearance and behavior.
Main Sighting[]
DragonBat from the movie "The cabin in the woods" as an example of how the creature could have look.
According to reports, the incident occurred around 3 a.m. when a security guard, who chose to remain anonymous, witnessed the creature while stationed at a sentry box. With the area illuminated by his truck’s headlights, his dog suddenly bolted toward a group of containers. As the guard followed, he saw a dark silhouette perched on the arm of a backhoe. As he got closer, the shape became clearer — a gargoyle-like figure, standing about 5'7" to 5'8", with an oversized body and a disproportionately small head. It had large wings and was described as resembling a giant black bat.
According to his account, the dog began barking furiously under the machine, visibly distressed. The creature emitted a screeching sound unlike any known animal, without making any sudden movements. Spooked, the dog retreated, and the guard took cover with the dog inside the truck. When he directed the headlights toward it again, the creature opened its wings and took flight toward the nearby hills.
Police Reaction[]
The report claims that Carabineros initially showed skepticism, but shortly after, they allegedly heard the same unidentifiable scream coming from the hills. The sound was loud enough to startle the officers, who reportedly called for reinforcements. The witness stated that both he and the dog remained shaken by the encounter; the dog refused to go outside afterward, instead hiding behind curtains at home.
Broader Context[]
This sighting triggered a wave of public interest and additional reports until at least December 27 of that year. The Iquique Giant Bat has since been tentatively linked to other Chilean winged entity reports, such as:
- Dog-faced gargoyles, creatures seen around graveyards in Chile.
- The Chilean Mothman, a local version of the well-known American cryptid
- Manta-man, a large flying creature sometimes described as having ray-like wings
- The Piuchén, a mythological Mapuche creature associated with vampiric traits and flight
- The so-called Maipú skydivers, unexplained flying silhouettes seen during the 2000s
While there is no confirmed explanation for the Iquique incident, it remains one of the most detailed modern flying cryptid reports in Chile. The combination of witness testimony, police reaction, and the behavior of the dog has made this a case often cited in local cryptozoological circles.