The Iwanchi is a legendary shapeshifting cryptid or spirit from the indigenous folklore of the Peruvian Amazon, often described as a large, hairy, ape-like being with glowing eyes, known to mimic voices or lure people into the jungle. Stories of the Iwanchi are widespread among local tribes, particularly the Kukama and Bora, who warn children not to stray too far from villages. Some 20th-century explorers and missionaries recorded accounts of “ape-men” in the Loreto and Ucayali regions, most recent mentions are found in oral traditions and cryptozoology forums. Sightings are still occasionally discussed by locals (see Reddit’s r/Cryptozoology and anthropological journals), there is no agreed-upon location—most reports center near deep jungle settlements around Iquitos.