forest guardian

Curupira with red hair and backward facing feet protecting the Atlantic Forest

The Curupira of the Atlantic Forest

November 25, 2025

American Spirits and Demons·Spirits & Demons

The Atlantic Forest stretched like a green ocean along the coastline, its heart beating beneath towering ceiba trees and tangled vines that whispered old secrets. Animals moved through its shadows with ease, guided by instincts older than memory, but humans walked carefully, for every person in the region knew that the forest was never entered alone. The Curupira, the guardian

Parchment-style artwork of Dzunuk’wa, forest guardian giantess, Kwakwaka’wakw mythology, surrounded by trees and wildlife.

American Gods and Deities·Gods & Deities

Dzunuk’wa: The Forest Guardian of Wealth (Kwakwaka’wakw Mythology)

Dzunuk’wa, also called Tsonoqua, is a formidable forest giantess whose presence commands awe and respect. She embodies the dual forces of protection and punishment, ensuring that humans approach the natural world with humility. Her deep-set eyes gleam with knowledge, and her booming voice, often remembered in the chilling cry, “Hu!