According to the legend, the mysterious Curupira is the size of a 10-year-old boy, but he is no ordinary boy. His hair and eyes are the color of fire, his teeth are green and his feet are turned backwards. Some versions of this legend say that he is very hairy. Hairy or not, everyone agrees to one thing: he protects the forest and is always riding the last of a herd of peccaries running through the forest. Whenever a heavy rain is expected, he runs through the forest beating on tree trunks to make sure that they will not be toppled by the rains. Hunters try to make friends with him and get his help when they are hunting. But Curupira seldom sides with the hunters, because he would rather protect the animals.
