A preparated Wolpertinger
The Wolpertinger (Crisensus bavaricus) (also called "Wolperdinger", "Poontinger" or "Woiperdinger") is a fictional animal said to inhabit the alpine forests of Bavaria in Germany. It has body parts of various animals — generally wings, antlers, and fangs, all attached to the body of a small mammal. The most widespread description is that of a horned rabbit or a horned squirrel. It is similar to the Rasselbock of the Thuringian Forest, the Elwedritsche of the Palatinate region, which is described as a chicken-like creature with antlers, and to the American invention of the jackalope, as well as to the Swedish Skvader.
Stuffed Wolpertingers, composed of parts of real stuffed animals, are often displayed in inns or sold to tourist as souvenirs in the animals' "native regions".
The Wolpertinger is not a typical cryptid, as local people probably never believed in its existence. Rather, it is some kind of traditional joke, as is evident from the many stuffed Wolpertingers displayed in village inns along with real hunting trophies, which have been fabricated deliberately in order to make fun of gullible foreigners who may want to go hunting for this remarkable animal.
Like the jackalope, the Wolpertinger is thought to have been inspired by sightings of wild rabbits infected with the Shope papilloma virus, which causes the growth of antler-like tumors in various places on the rabbit's head and body.[citation needed]
In Popular Culture
The wolpertinger is a gameplay aspect in two MMORPGs. In World of Warcraft, it is possible to receive a wolpertinger through a quest as an in-game pet. However, it is only available to collect during Brewfest, an annual in-game event loosely based on, and inspired by, the real world event, the Bavarian Oktoberfest, during which one must become extremely inebriated in order to see, and thus, "catch" one. The quest to get the wolpertinger was eliminated in the recent patch. To get one you just buy one from the Brewfest prize vendor for 50 silver during the Brewfest Holiday once per year.
In Runescape wolpertingers are level 92 Summoning familiars which are actually part-rabbit, part-wolf. They have the ability of boosting the Hunter skill by 5, though this boost is invisible. Wolpertingers also double the experience and yield when berries are being harvested, in the Farming skill. These familiars provide 5% defense bonus against Magic.
During the Wolf Whistle quest, the player must scare a Giant wolpertinger by summoning a level 1 Spirit wolf.
Wolpertingers play an important role in Walter Moers' Zamonia novels, although Moers' version of a Wolpertinger differs from the traditional description - Zamonian "Wolpertings" are part deer, part dog.[citation needed]
The Hunting and Fishing Museum in Munich has a permanent exhibition of wolpertingers. Occasionally, the museum has a special wolpertinger exhibition, mostly around Mardi Gras or April Fools' Day.
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