Villagers Subdue Cow-Eating Tree

Mind you, this is not just village folklore -- or so says the Express News Service of India, which reported on Tuesday that residents of Padrame in the southern state of Karnataka had successfully freed a cow from the clutches of a carnivorous "tiger tree" last week. "The cow was suddenly grabbed by the branches and pulled from the ground," according to the report. Fortunately, quick-thinking villagers "struck mortal blows to the branches that turned limp and the cow was rescued." A forest ranger confirmed having received many complaints of cows returning home without tails. This is not, I repeat, folklore.

Commentary by Loren Coleman at Cryptomundo.com.