The Wendigo (also known as windigo, weendigo, windago, windiga, witiko, wihtikow, and numerous other variants including "manaha") is a mythical monster from varied Native American cultures, especially those who existed in areas where the winter caused them to become isolated due to heavy snow and adverse conditions: in these harsh conditions it was believed that the practice of cannibalism was occassionally practiced and the Wendigo was believed to be the result of such actions, often said have been human the Wendigo became transformed via the act of cannibalism into an eternally hungry monster that had no real universal appearance: though a common depiction is of a large hairy humanoid with a heart of ice, the concept of the Wendigo was likely formed as a warning against cannibalism.