The Emela-ntouka
In the swamps of the Congo, people describe a huge, rhinoceros-like animal with a single horn, called the 'killer of elephants'.
What was reported
In the remote swamps of the Likouala region, people have told explorers about the emela-ntouka, whose name is said to mean 'killer of elephants'. It's described as the size of an elephant or bigger, with a heavy tail and a single long horn on its face, living in the water and feeding on plants.
Its story is closely related to that of the mokele-mbembe, said to live in the same swamps.
Explanations offered
No physical evidence has been found. Suggested explanations include a memory of rhinoceroses, which once lived more widely in the region, a large crocodile, or the merging of different animals in stories. Some cryptozoologists suggest a surviving horned dinosaur, which biologists reject.
- When
- Reported in the 20th century
- Where
- Likouala swamps, Republic of the Congo
- Witnesses
- People of the Likouala region, as told to explorers
- Status
- Unconfirmed
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.
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