They are believed to take the form of beautiful men or women who lure people into their underwater kingdoms. The stories serve as a reminder to be cautious near bodies of water and respect the spirits that dwell within them.
These folklore stories reflect the deep connection between the people of Brazil and the natural wonders of the Amazon Rainforest. They convey important cultural and ecological lessons, emphasizing the need to protect and preserve the rich biodiversity and unique environment of the region.
My grandfather here tells me stories about a Boto Cor-de-Rosa who spent many nights with a girl in a local town. The girl fell ill, and her father followed the boy through town until he reached the river. Her father saw his daughter's boyfriend jump into the river and revert back into a dolphin.
He also told me about his aunt communicating with a large anaconda continuously making noise outside of their home. His family became ill for many days. After communicating with the anaconda, his aunt told the family that the anaconda had cast a sickness on him and his family because they had put their fishing boat over its home.
My grandfather also would bring a gift for the Curupira every time he went into the jungle. Once he was in the jungle and encountered a Curupira. Whenever he looked behind him, water had taken over his pathway out of the area. He saw a long vine hanging from a tree, and he tied it into a toy to offer to the Curupira, who then showed him the way forward through the jungle.
NOTE: All cartoon images attached were found on the Internet for the purposes of showing visual representations of these folklore images.
