A
strange, mystical Neanderthal like creature that allegedly roams the Caucasus (with the exception of Mount Elbrus) and the Kazakh Steppe.
Although there has never been any conclusive
proof that the "Santos" actually exists rumours abound in the folklore of the region and the similarity in description across all the different countries cast some sort of credibility to it's
existence.
The creature is said to be of "swarthy" appearance and has a lumbering gait that makes it appear to stagger as though
drunk with the Azerbaijani, Dagestan, Chechnya and some Georgian
people referring to it as "Chorni Chuchka Santos", and the Kazakhs calling it "Monkeyears Santos"
There are many rumours of conflicts between the Santos and
local villagers and it is said to be aggressive if cornered and bears the scars of many battles.
It's said it moves between the Caucasus and the Kazakh Steppe by swimming the Caspian Sea and there have been limited sightings reported in the Ural River in Atyrau, however most
local experts believe it migrates over frozen areas of the Caspian during the winter months.
It is reportedly a solitary creature that eats fermented fruit which
may account for it's drunken like state in many of it's sightings