The Waheela
In the far north of Canada, travellers reported a wolf larger than any wolf should be, with white fur and a heavy, broad head.
What was reported
The waheela is a giant wolf-like creature reported in northern Canada and Alaska, said to be much bigger than an ordinary wolf, with thick white fur, wide-set legs and a broad head, travelling alone instead of in packs.
It has been linked to the Nahanni Valley in the Northwest Territories, nicknamed the 'Headless Valley' because of stories about prospectors found without their heads. Some writers connect it with the amarok, a giant wolf of Inuit folklore.
Explanations offered
There's no physical evidence of the waheela. Large northern grey wolves, which can be white, or bears seen briefly, are likely explanations. Some cryptozoologists have suggested it could be a surviving prehistoric predator, but there's no support for this.
- When
- Reported in the 20th century
- Where
- Nahanni Valley, Northwest Territories, Canada
- Witnesses
- Trappers and prospectors
- 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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