Although short, the warriors fought like giants against the dinosaur
When the warriors advanced, their throwing spears grasped tightly in their fists, not one knew if any of them would survive the next several minutes. Before them, emerging from the swamp, rose a creature out of nightmares—a monster from the mists of hell that should have vanished uncounted millennia in the past. Yet there it was, snorting, wild-eyed, ready to kill.
Inexorably it advanced on the men, but they bravely stood their ground.
This is from the account of the pygmy tribe that claims to have killed a live dinosaur. Do others still remain? Some scientists say there's little doubt more of the beasts exist.
Recently, the story of the natives mortal fight with the central African creature called Mokele-mbembe was confirmed by a Christian pastor.
Congo's Likouala Swamp: 55,000 sq mi deadly terrain
Dinosaur lore in Africa
Perhaps the most celebrated dinosaur, and the one most sought by research expeditions, is the fabled Mokele-mbembe. The name Mokele-mbembe translated from the native language means "One that stops the flow of rivers."
Mokele-mbembe is about size of an elephant
Other animals that fit the descriptions of living dinosaurs in the general region where Mokele-mbembe dwells are the mela-ntouka (the "killer of elephants;" the natives' descriptions fit a prehistoric Rhinocerous), the Mbielu-mbielu-mbielu ("the animal with planks growing out of its back," that may be an offshoot of the Stegosaur), and finally the Nguma-monene (large snake similar to the Amazon Yacumama except that it's said to have a serrated ridge running lengthwise down its spine).
Photo of alleged Mokele-mbembe swimming in Lake Tele
The reports of these animals go back hundreds of years and documented cases of witnesses—including some from European missionaries during the Nineteenth Century—attest to the fact that some types of previously undiscovered animals are roaming the jungles and swamps of one of the most inhospitable areas of the world.
Perhaps that very inhospitable environment is what kept most humans and other predators at bay and allowed the animals to escape total extinction.
Missionary pastor confirms natives' account
Recently, the story of the natives mortal fight with the central African creature called Mokele-mbembe was confirmed by a Christian pastor.
According to researcher William Gibbons who undertook major expeditions to the Congo during 1985-1986 and again in 1992 searching for proof of Mokele-mbembe, the missionary Pastor Eugene P. Thomas had conversations with two of the tribesman eyewitness of the creature and swear it is a dinosaur.
Thomas testifies that pygmies from the Lake Tele region, from the Bangombe tribe, were bothered by large animals invading their fishing territory. The animals would come from the swampland and, the natives claimed, the Mokele-mbembes were the culprits. To defeat them the natives constructed wooden barriers to keep the creatures out of the lake and protect the pygmies fishing territory.
Pastor Eugene Thomas and wife met natives who fought creatures
The plan seemed a good one until the day that two of the beasts were seen thrashing about the barrier attempting to trample it and break through into the lake.
At that point, the pygmies, armed wiith spears, drove one of the animals off and killed the other. They sliced the dead one into pieces over a period of days.
William Gibbons interviews witness who saw a Mokele-mbembe
Gibbons writes of the aftermath of the 1960 incident:
"This task [butchering] apparently took several days due to the size of the animal, which was described as being bigger than a forest elephant with a long neck, a small snake-like or lizard-like head, which was decorated with a comb-like frill. The pygmy spearmen also described a long, flexible tail, a smooth, reddish-brown skin and four stubby, but powerful legs with clawed toes. Pastor Thomas also mentioned that the two pygmies mimicked the cry of the animal as it was being attacked and speared."
According to the two witnesses who related the incident to the pastor, a village feast celebrating the victory over the two Mokele-mbembes was held. As was traditional, the flesh of an animal conquered in battle was roasted and eaten.
That was a big mistake.
Gibbons further writes:
"However, those who participated in the feast eventually died, either from food poisoning or from natural causes. It should be noted that pygmies rarely live beyond 35, and pygmy women give birth from aged 12. I also believe that the mythification (magical powers, etc.) surrounding Mokele-mbembes began with this incident."During Gibbons' Congo expeditions he spoke with many who had seen the beasts, but was unable to find one himself.
Mokele-mbembe likes the flowers of the molombo plant
Another expedition to the same region, mounted by the Japanese during 1988, reported observing "a large humped back of an animal, slowly moving along, as if foraging on the bottom of the lake..."
Gibbons interviewed Jose Bourges, a Congolese wildlife official that participated in the Japanese attempt. Bourges confirmed the sighting of a Mokele-mbembe by all the members of the expedition.
Mokele-mbembes nest in caves like this one
Experts have dismissed other animals in the past
While anecdotal tales do not constitute scientific proof, it is interesting to note that orthodox zoologists dismissed as unbelievable the reports by European explorers and adventurers returning from Africa during the 1700s of long-legged, long-necked creatures that were actually giraffes.
Dr. Roy Mackal first searched for the creature
Also roundly dismissed by experts were the eyewitness accounts of a single-horned beast that lived on the plains of Africa. The creature was said to be a construct based on the mythical unicorn—until scientists themselves saw absolute proof of the beast that eventually became known in the Western world as the rhinocerous.
Famous researcher Ivan T. Sanderson believed dinosaurs still exist
Despite not investigating the evidence, many modern zoologists dismiss reports of living dinosaurs. To them the idea is preposterous and they just assume such creatures are impossible.
Although the Mokele-mbembe has been sighted hundreds of times at or near the Likouala Swamp, the reports are shrugged off by all but a very few scientists.
Newspaper account of Herman and Kia Regusters' encounter with dinosaur in Congo
Caves have been located where natives claim the creatures live, and some tribal hunters who have seen it feed say that the creature is attracted to the flowers of the molombo plant.
Artists interpretation of a Mokele-mbembe crossing river
One problem serious researchers face is the region's is infested with swarms of stinging insects, including killer bees. Slugs, leeches, and a variety of poisonous snakes inhabit the area.
Another challenge to researchers intent on tracking down the beast is the gargantuan size of Likouala Swamp. The swamp, marshland and adjoining lake cover about the same size as the states of New Hampshire and Ohio combined.
Anecdotal encounters by many fishermen who spot Mokele-mbembe on the river is not sufficient evidence that the creatures exist.
And even as reports continue to come in to the authorities from the locals scientists continue to skoff.
Mokele-mbembe looks like an apatosaurus
Virtually all eyewitnesses who claim to have gotten a good look at the animal agree that, of the various pictures of dinosaurs they're shown, the Mokele-mbembe is very similar in appearance to the extinct apatosaurus.
More expeditions are planned in the future. Perhaps in the coming years the existence of the mysterious living dinosaur Mokele-mbembe will finally be proven true.
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