Mokele-mbembe 19510 226158365 2008-07-17T02:18:24Z Iloveapes 4489718 {{Infobox Paranormalcreatures |Creature_Name = Mokele-mbembe |Image_Name = Mokele-mbembe.jpg |Image_Caption = An artist's rendition of the Mokèlé-mbèmbé. |Grouping = [[Cryptid]] |Sub_Grouping = [[Lake monster]] |AKA = nsanga, n’yamala, jago-nini |Country = [[Republic of the Congo]], [[Gabon]],<br>[[Cameroon]], [[Zambia]] |Region = [[Congo River]] area |Habitat = Lakes, swamps |First_Reported = 1776 |Last_Sighted = [[Likouala Region|Congo]]: 1989 (Eugene Thomas)<br>Cameroon: 2006 |Status = Unconfirmed }} :''For information on the African political theorist, see: [[Achille Mbembe]]'' '''Mokèlé-mbèmbé''': meaning "one who stops the flow of rivers" in the [[Lingala language]],<ref name=clark1>Clark, Jerome (1993) "Unexplained! 347 Strange Sightings, Incredible Occurrences, and Puzzling Physical Phenomena", Visible Ink Press, ISBN 0810394367</ref> is the name given to a large water dwelling [[cryptid]] found in the legends and [[folklore]] of the [[Congo River basin]].<ref name=clark1/><ref name=mackal1>Mackal, R. P. (1987) "A Living Dinosaur? In Search of Mokele-Mbembe", E.J. Brill, ISBN 9004085432</ref> It is sometimes described as being a living creature and sometimes as being a spirit. It is analogous to the [[Loch Ness Monster]] in Western culture. Several expeditions have been mounted in the hope of finding evidence of the Mokele-mbembe, though without success.<ref name=clark1/> Efforts have been covered in a number of books and by a number of television documentaries (See main text). The Mokele-mbembe and its associated folklore also appears in several works of fiction and popular culture (See main text). ==Mokèlé-mbèmbé== According to the traditions of the [[Congo River basin]] the Mokele-mbembe is a large territorial [[herbivore]], approximately the size of an small elephant or a large hippopotamus. It dwells in the Congo river and the surrounding swampland,<ref name=clark1/> and has a preference for deep water, with local folklore holding that its haunts of choice are river bends.<ref name=clark1/> Descriptions of the Mokèlé-mbèmbé, vary. Some legends describe it as having an elephant-like body with a long neck and tail and a small head, making it similar in appearance to the extinct [[Sauropoda]],<ref name=clark1/> while others describe is as more closely resembling elephants, rhinoceros and other known animals. It is usually described as being gray-brown in color. Some traditions, such those of Boha village, believe it to be a spirit rather than a flesh and blood creature. Some people report this creature to have a horn on its head, though it is unkown what the horn would be used for. It is possible that sightings of Mokele-mbembe are combinations of hippo, elephant, and crocodile sightings. According to science writer [[Willy Ley]], while there is a sufficient anecdotal accounts to suggest "that there is a large and dangerous animal hiding in the shallow waters and rivers of Central Africa", the body of evidence so far presented remains insufficient for any realistic conclusions to be drawn on what the Mokele-mbembe may be (Ley, 74). According to the writings of biologist and [[cryptozoology|cryptid researcher]] [[Roy Mackal|Dr. R. P. Mackal]], who mounted two unsuccessful expeditions to find it, it is unlikely that the Mokele-Mbembe is a [[mammal]] or an [[amphibian]]. This leaves a reptile as the only plausible candidate.<ref name=mackal1/> Of all the living reptiles, Mackal argues that the [[iguana]] and the [[monitor lizard]]s bear the closest resemblance to the Mokele-Mbembe,<ref name=mackal1/> though, at 15 to 30 feet long, the Mokele-mbembe would exceed the size of any known examples of such reptiles.<ref name=mackal1/> Mackal judged available evidence as consistent, writing, "I believe the description of the Mokele-mbembe is accounted for in all respects by an identification with a small sauropod dinosaur".<ref name=mackal1/> Mackal also judged the existence of an undiscovered relict sauropod to be plausible on the grounds that there were large amount uninhabited and unexplored territory in the region where a creature might live,<ref name=mackal1/> and on the grounds that other large creatures such as elephants, exist in the region, living in large open clearings (called ''bai'') as well as in thicker wooded areas. In conclusion, Mackal states the personal belief that the Mokele-Mbembe may be a [[relict]] [[sauropod]].<ref name=clark1/><ref name=mackal1/> The argument for the Mokele-Mbembe being a relict sauropod has also been supported by some [[creationism|creationists]], who believe the creature is a [[living dinosaurs|surviving dinosaur]],<ref>{{cite book|author=Gish, Duane T.|year=1992|editor=Clanin, Gloria (ed.)|title=Dinosaurs by Design|pages=17|publisher= Creation-Life Publishers|id=ISBN 0-89051-165-9}}</ref> and use it in support of their own views. ==History== Numerous expeditions were undertaken to discover uncharted Africa. During these, there were some sightings that might involve an unidentified dinosaur-like creature. Also there have been several specific Mokele-mbembe-hunting expeditions. These expeditions have been undertaken with varying degrees of scientific rigor.<ref name=clark1/> Although several of the expeditions sent to find it have reported close-encounters none have been able to provide incontrovertible proof that the creature exists<ref name=clark1/> Though evidence was found of a widespread folklore and anecdotal accounts covering a considerable period of time.<ref name=clark1/> ===1776: Bonaventure=== Amongst the earliest reference that might be relevant to mokele-mbembe stories (though the term is not used in the source) comes from the 1776 book of Abbé [[Lievain Bonaventure]], a French missionary to the [[Congo River]] region. Among many other observations about flora, fauna and native inhabitants related in his lengthy book, Bonaventure claimed to have seen enormous footprints in the region. The creature that left the prints was not witnessed, but Bonaventure wrote that it "must have been monstrous: the marks of the claws were noted on the ground, and these formed a print about three feet in circumference."<ref name=clark1/> ===1909: Gratz=== According to Lt. Paul Gratz, indigenous legend of the Congo River basin (Modern day [[Zambia]]) speak of a mokele-mbembe like creature. known by native people as the ''Nsanga'', which is said to inhabit the [[Lake Bangweulu]] region. Gratz, describes the creature as resembling a [[sauropod]].<ref name=clark1/> This is one of the earliest references linking the legend with dinosaurs. In addition to hearing stories of the ''Nsanga'' Gantz was shown a hide which he was told belonged to the creature, while visiting on [[Mbawala]] island. ===1909: Hagenbeck=== [[1909]] saw another mention of a mokele-mbembe-like creature, in ''[[Beasts and Men]]'', the autobiography of famed big-game hunter [[Carl Hagenbeck]]. He claimed to have heard from multiple independent sources about a creature living in the Congo region which was described as “half elephant, half dragon.”<ref name=clark1/> Naturalist [[Joseph Menges]] had also told Hagenbeck about an animal alleged to live in Africa, described as “some kind of dinosaur, seemingly akin to the [[brontosaur]]s.”<ref name=clark1/> Another of Hagenbeck’s sources, [[Hans Schomburgk]], asserted that while at [[Lake Bangweulu]], he noted a lack of [[hippopotami]]; his native guides informed him of a large hippo-killing creature that lived in Lake Bangweulu; however, as noted below, Schomburgk thought that native testimony was sometimes unreliable. Reports of dinosaur-like creatures in Africa caused a minor sensation in the [[mass media]], and newspapers in Europe and North America carried many articles on the subject in 1910-1911; some took the reports at face value, others were more skeptical. ===1913=== Another report comes from the writings of German Captain [[Freiherr von Stein zu Lausnitz]], who was ordered to conduct a survey of German colonies in what is now [[Cameroon]] in 1913. He heard stories of an enormous reptile alleged to live in the jungles, and included a description of the beast in his official report. According to [[Willy Ley]], "von Stein worded his report with utmost caution," knowing it might be seen as unbelievable. (Ley, 69) Nonetheless, von Stein thought the tales were credible: trusted native guides had related the tales to him; the stories were related to him by independent sources, yet featured many of the same details. Though von Stein's report was never formally published, portions were included in later works, including a 1959 book by Ley; von Stein wrote: :The animal is said to be of a brownish-gray color with a smooth skin, its size is approximately that of an [[elephant]]; at least that of a [[hippopotamus]]. It is said to have a long and very flexible neck and only one tooth but a very long one; some say it is a horn. A few spoke about a long, muscular tail like that of an [[alligator]]. Canoes coming near it are said to be doomed; the animal is said to attack the vessels at once and to kill the crews but without eating the bodies. The creature is said to live in the caves that have been washed out by the river in the clay of its shores at sharp bends [http://livingdinos.com/myPictures/Cave1.jpg] It is said to climb the shores even at daytime in search of food; its diet is said to be entirely vegetable. This feature disagrees with a possible explanation as a myth. The preferred plant was shown to me, it is a kind of [[liana]] with large white blossoms, with a milky [[sap]] and [[apple]]like fruits. At the Ssombo River I was shown a path said to have been made by this animal in order to get at its food. The path was fresh and there were plants of the described type nearby. But since there were too many tracks of elephants, hippos, and other large mammals it was impossible to make out a particular spoor with any amount of certainty. (quoted in Ley, 70) ===1919-1920: Smithsonian Institute=== A 32-men-strong expedition was sent out to Africa from the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. The objective of this expedition was to secure additional specimens of plants and animals. Moving picture photographers from the Universal Film Manufacturing Company accompanied the expedition, in order to document the life of interior Africa. According to Loren Coleman & Patrick Huyghe, authors of the ''Field Guide to Lake Monsters'', "African guides found large, unexplained tracks along the bank of a river and later in a swamp the team heard mysterious roars, which had no resemblance with any known animal".<ref>http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1585422525/ref=ase_cryptozoologi-20/ Field Guide to Lake Monsters, page 216</ref> However, the expedition was to end in tragedy. During a train-ride through a flooded area where an entire tribe was said to have seen the dinosaur, the locomotive suddenly derailed and turned over. Four team members were crushed to death under the cars and another half dozen seriously injured. The expedition was documented in the H.L. Shantz papers.<ref>http://aao.lib.asu.edu/ViewRecordFrame.jsp?record=0000000969</ref> ===1927=== [[1927]] saw the publication of ‘’[[Trader Horn]]’’, the memoir of [[Alfred Aloysious Smith]], who had worked for a British trading company in what is now [[Gabon]] in the late 1800s. In the book, Smith related tales told him by natives and explorers about a creature given two different names: ‘’jago-nini’’ and ‘’amali’’. The creature is said to be very large, according to Smith, and to leave large, round, three-clawed footprints.<ref name=clark1/> ===1932: Sanderson=== Zoologist [[Ivan T. Sanderson]] claimed that, while in [[Cameroon]] in [[1932]], he witnessed an enormous creature in the [[Mainyu River]]. The creature, seemingly badly wounded, was only briefly visible as it lurched into the waters. Darkly colored, the animal's head alone was nearly the size of a hippo, according to Sanderson. His native guides termed the creature "m'koo m'bemboo" (in Sanderson's [[phonetic]] spelling).<ref name=clark1/> ===1938-1939=== In 1938, explorer [[Leo von Boxberger]] mounted an expedition in part to investigate mokele-mbembe reports. He collected much information from natives, but his notes and sketches had to be abandoned during a conflagration with local tribesmen.<ref name=clark1/> In [[1939]], the ''[[German Colonial Gazette]]'' (of [[Angola]]) published a letter by Frau [[Ilse von Nolde]], who asserted that she had heard of the animal called "coye ya menia" ("water lion") from many claimed eyewitnesses, both native and settlers. She described the long necked creature as living in the rivers, and being about the size of a hippo, if not somewhat larger. It was known especially for attacking hippos - even coming on to land to do so - though it never ate them. (Ley, 71-72) ===1959: Mokele-mbembe killing=== Reverend Eugene Thomas from Ohio, USA, told James Powell and Dr. [[Roy Mackal|Roy P. Mackal]] in 1979 a story that involved the purported killing of a Mokele-mbembe near [[Lake Tele]] in 1959.<ref>[http://www.anomalist.com/reports/mokele.html Was a Mokele-mbembe killed at Lake Tele? by William Gibbons], retrieved [[25 May]] [[2007]]</ref> Thomas was a missionary who had served in the Congo since 1955, gathering much of the earliest evidence and reports, and claiming to have had two close-encounters himself <ref>[http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/thomas-obit/ Cryptomundo.com Mokele-mbembe’s Rev. Eugene Thomas, 78, dies]</ref>. Natives of the Bangombe tribe who lived near Lake Tele were said to have constructed a large spiked fence in a tributary of Tele to keep Mokele-mbembe from interfering in their fishing. A Mokele-mbembe managed to break through, though it was wounded on the spikes, and the natives then killed the creature. As William Gibbons writes, "Pastor Thomas also mentioned that the two pygmies mimicked the cry of the animal as it was being attacked and speared... Later, a victory feast was held, during which parts of the animal were cooked and eaten. However, those who participated in the feast eventually died, either from food poisoning or from natural causes. I also believe that the mythification (magical powers, etc) surrounding Mokele-mbembes [sic] began with this incident." Furthermore, Roy P. Mackal heard from witnesses that the stakes were in the same location in the tributary as of the early 1980s.<ref name=mackal1> ===1976: Powell=== In 1960, an expedition to [[Democratic Republic of the Congo|Zaire]] was planned by herpetologist [[James H. Powell, Jr.]], scheduled for 1972, but was canceled by legal complications. By 1976, however, he had sorted out the international travel problems, and went to [[Gabon]] instead, inspired by the ''Trader Horn'' book. He secured finances from the [[Explorer’s Club]]. Although Powell’s ostensible research aim was to study [[crocodile]]s, he also planned to study mokele-mbembe. On his first journey, Powell located a claimed eyewitness to an animal called ''n’yamala'', or ''jago-nini'', which Powell thought was the same as the ''amali'' of Smith's 1920's books. Natives also stated – without Powell’s asking &ndash; that ''n’yamala'' ate the flowering liana, just as von Stein had learned half a century earlier.<ref name=clark1/> When Powell showed illustrations of various animals, both alive and extinct, to natives, they generally suggested that the [[diplodocus]] was the closest match to ''n’yamala''.<ref name=clark1/> ===1979: Powell=== Powell returned to the same region in 1979, and claimed to receive further stories about ''n’yamala'' from additional natives. He also made an especially valuable contact in American missionary Eugene Thomas, who was able to introduce Powell to several claimed eyewitnesses.<ref name=clark1/> He decided that the n’yamala was probably identical to the Mokele-mbembe. Though seemingly herbivores, witnesses reported that the creatures were fearsome, and were known to attack canoes that were steered too close. ===1980: Mackal-Powell=== For his third expedition in February 1980, Powell was joined by [[University of Chicago]] biologist [[Roy P. Mackal]]. Based on the testimony of claimed eyewitnesses, Powell and Mackal decided to focus their efforts on visiting the northern Congo regions, near the [[Likouala aux Herbes River]] and isolated [[Lake Tele]]. As of 1980, this region was little explored and largely unmapped, and the expedition was unable to reach Lake Tele. Powell and Mackal interviewed several people who claimed to have seen ''Mokele-mbembe'', and Clark writes that the descriptions of the creature were "strikingly similar ... animals 15 to 30 feet long (most of that a snakelike head and neck, plus long thin tail). The body was reminiscent of a [[Hippopotamus|hippo]]’s, only more bulbous ... again, informants invariable pointed to a picture of a sauropod when shown pictures of various animals to which mokele-mbembe might be compared."<ref name=clark1/><ref name=mackal1/> ===1981: Mackal-Bryan=== Mackal and Jack Bryan mounted an expedition to the same area in late 1981. He was supposed to be joined by Herman Regusters, but they came in conflict in terms of finance, equipment and leadership and decided to split and make separate expeditions. Although, once again, Mackal was unable to reach Lake Tele, he gathered details on other cryptids and possible living dinosaurs, like the [[Emela-ntouka‎]], [[Mbielu-Mbielu-Mbielu‎]], [[Nguma-monene]], [[Ndendeki]] (giant turtle), [[Mahamba]] (giant crocodile of 15 meters), and [[Ngoima]] (a giant monkey-eating Eagle). Among his company were [[J. Richard Greenwell]], M. Justin Wilkinson, and Congolese zoologist Marcellin Agnagna.<ref name=clark1/><ref name=mackal1/> The 1981 expedition would feature the only "close encounters" of the Mackal expeditions. It occurred when, while on a river, they heard a loud splash and saw what Greenwell described as “[a] large wake (about 5”) ... originating from the east bank”.<ref name=clark1/><ref name=mackal1/> Greenwell asserted that the wake must have been caused by an "animate object" that was unlike a crocodile or hippo. Additionally, Greenwell noted that the encounter occurred at a sharp river bend where, according to natives, mokele-mbembe frequently lived due to deep waters at those points.<ref name=clark1/><ref name=mackal1/> 1987 saw the publication of Mackal’s book, ''A Living Dinosaur?'', in which Mackal detailed his expedition and his conclusions about the mokele-mbembe.<ref name=clark1/><ref name=mackal1/> Mackal tried, unsuccessfully, to raise funds for additional trips to Africa. ===1981: Regusters=== In 1981, American engineer Herman Regusters led his own mokele-mbembe expedition, after there was a conflict with the Mackal-Bryan expedition that he intended to join. Regusters and his wife Kia reached Lake Tele, staying there for about two weeks. Of the 30 expedition members (28 were men from the Boha village), only Herman Regusters and his wife claim to have observed a "long-necked member" traveling across Lake Tele. They also claim to have tried filming the being, but said their motion picture film was ruined by the heat and humidity. Only one picture was released showing a large, but unidentifiable, object in the lake. [http://www.beckjord.com/cryptozoology/mm.jpg] The Regusters expedition returned with droppings, footprint casts [http://criptido.iespana.es/cripto/mokelepie.jpg], which Regusters believed were from the mokele-mbembe. It also returned with sound recordings of "low windy roar [that] increased to a deep throated trumpeting growl", which Regusters believed to be the mokele-mbembe's call.<ref name=clark1/> Regusters conclusions about this tape were later contradicted by Mackal, who asserted that the Mokele-mbembe did not have a vocal call. Mackal asserts that vocalizations are more correctly associated with the [[Emela-ntouka]], a similarly described creature found in the Central African legends. Herman Alphanso Regusters passed away on [[December 19]], [[2005]], aged 72. ===1983: Agnagna=== Congolese zoologist Marcellin Agnagna led the 1983 expedition of Congolese to Lake Tele. According to his own account, Agnagna claimed to have seen a mokele-mbembe at close distance for about 20 minutes. He tried to film it, but said that in his excitement, he forgot to remove the motion picture camera's lens cap. In a 1984 interview, Agnagna claimed, contradictorily, that the film was ruined not because of the lens cap, but because he had the [[Super 8 mm film|Super 8]] camera on the wrong setting: [[Macro photography|macro]] instead of [[Telephoto lens|tele]].<ref name=clark1/><ref>http://www.icr.org/article/306%20/ ''In Search Of the Congo Dinosaur'' by Bill Gibbons</ref> ===1985: Rory Nugent=== In December 1985 Rory Nugent claimed to have spotted the animal but to have been ordered at gunpoint by the natives not to approach it. Nugent claimed that they view the creature as a god "that you can not approach, but if he chooses, this god can approach you". He also provided some pictures, which are too blurry to be identifiable. ===1985-1986: Operation Congo=== Operation Congo took place between December 1985 and early 1986, and was led by Englishman William Gibbons, comprised of "four enthusiastic but naïve young Englishmen." {{Who|date=May 2008}}<ref name=clark1/> They hired Agnagna to take them to Lake Tele, but did not report any mokele-mbembe sightings. The British men did, however, describe Agnagna as doing "little more than lie, cheat and steal (our film and supplies) and turn the porters against us."<ref name=clark1/> After criminal charges were filed against him, a Congolese court ordered Agnagna to return the items he had taken from the expedition. Although the party found no evidence of the mokele-mbembe, they discovered a new sub-species of monkey, which was later classified as the [[Crested mangabey]] monkey ''(Cerocebus galeritus)'', as well as fish and insect specimens. ===1986: Botterweg=== In 1986 another expedition was mounted, consisting of four Dutchmen, organized and led by Dutch biologist Ronald Botterweg, who already had experience with tropical rainforest research in the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]], and who later visited, lived and worked in several African countries. This expedition entered the [[Congo Basin|Congo]] down the [[Ubangi River]] from [[Bangui]] in the [[Central African Republic]], and managed, with considerable organizational challenges, to reach Lake Tele, with a group of guides from the village of Boha, some of which had also accompanied Regusters. Since they had only managed to obtain permission from the local authorities (not having passed by Brazzaville) for a very limited period in the area, they only spent about three days at the lake before returning to Boha. During their stay at the lake they spent as much time as possible observing the lake and its surroundings through from their provisional camp on the north-eastern shore, and navigating part of it by dug-out canoe. No signs of any large unknown animal were found. {{Fact|date=May 2008}} On the way back, arriving at the town of Impfondo, they were detained by Congolese biologist Agnagna and his team, who had just arrived there for an expedition with the British team of Operation Congo (see before), allegedly for not possessing the proper documents. They were detained for a short while, and the largest part of their film and color slides were confiscated, before being released and leaving the country (again by the Ubangui river and Bangui). {{Fact|date=May 2008}} No signs, tracks or anything tangible or visible of the alleged animals was seen or shown whatsoever. {{Fact|date=May 2008}} Tracks, droppings, and other signs of forest elephants and gorillas were commonly seen, as well as crocodiles in the lake. Despite the fact that the African guides were extremely capable and experienced hunters, guides and experts of the African rainforest, they were not able to show any track or sign of the Mokele-mbembe and none of the several interviewed guides even claimed ever to have seen one personally, nor its tracks. Remarkable is the fact that the guides that were interviewed by the Dutch expedition and that also accompanied Regusters, stated that they never saw a Mokele-mbembe during that expedition, although Regusters himself claims to have seen one. {{Fact|date=May 2008}} This expedition received some attention in the Dutch media (radio, TV, newspapers) from 1985 to 1987. {{Fact|date=May 2008}} ===1988 Japanese expedition=== Occurred in 1988 <ref>[http://www.h3.dion.ne.jp/~no-no/newpage2.htm 明日できるコトは今日やらない<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>, and was lead by the Congolese wildlife official Jose Bourges. Members of a Japanese film crew allegedly captured the first evidence of Mokele-mbembe.[http://www.unknownexplorers.com/cryptogallery/hybrids/hybridsgallery/mokelembembe/images/10.jpg] As they were filming aerial footage from a small plane over the area of [[Lake Tele]], intending to obtain some shots for a documentary, the cameraman noticed a disturbance in the water. He struggled to maintain focus on the object, which was creating a noticeable wake. About 15 seconds of footage was captured with skeptics identifying it as two men in a canoe or elephants. ===1989 O'Hanlon=== British writer [[Redmond O'Hanlon]] traveled to the region in 1989 and not only failed to discover any evidence of Mokele-mbembe but found out that many local people believe the creature to be a spirit rather than a physical being, and that claims for its authentic existence have been fabricated. His experience is chronicled in [[Granta]] 39 (1992) and in his book ''No Mercy'' (1997). ===1992 Operation Congo 2=== William Gibbons launched a second expedition in 1992 which he dubbed "Operation Congo 2". Along with Rory Nugent, Gibbons searched almost two thirds Bai River along with two poorly charted lakes: Lake Fouloukuo and Lake Tibeke. Both of which local folklore held to be sites of Mokele-Mbembe activity. The expedition failed to provide any conclusive evidence of the Mokele Mbembe, though they did further document local legends and Nugent took two photographs of unidentified object in the water. One of which he claimed was the creatures head. [http://www.x-creatures.com/rettili/Dinosauri-Spedizioni/mokele05.jpg] ===1998=== The Extreme Expeditions team was set to travel to the Likouala Region, however the 1997-1999 civil war made this impossible.<ref>http://www.extreme-expeditions.net/prex98Congo5.htm</ref> ===1999=== During the 1999 [[megatransect]] into the wilderness of the Congo basin by the biologist and Africa explorer [[J. Michael Fay|Michael Fay]] did not reveal any trace of the Mokele-mbembe. However, it must be noted that the trek did not pass through the Likouala and lake Tele regions. ===2000=== * In January 2000, the Congo Millennium Expedition (aka. DINO2000) took place, the second one by Extreme Expeditions. Consisting of Andrew Sanderson, Adam Davies, Keith Townley, Swedish explorer Jan-Ove Sundberg, and five others.<ref>[http://www.extreme-expeditions.net/prexpage.htm prexpage<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> * In November 2000, William Gibbons did some preliminary research in Cameroon for a future expedition. He was accompanied by David Wetzel. While visiting with a group of pygmies, were informed about an animal called [[Ngoubou]]. It might be related to the Emela-ntouka, but this animal is single-horned. The pygmies asserted it was not a regular rhinoceros, as it had more than one horn (six horns on the frill in one eyewitness account), and that the father of one of the senior members of the community had killed one with a spear a number of years ago. The locals have noted a firm dwindle in the population of these animals lately, and are hard to find. Gibbons identified the animal with a [[Styracosaurus]], but these are currently only known to have inhabited North America.<ref>[http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptid-universe/ngoubou/ Cryptomundo.com - The Ngoubou]</ref> ===2001=== * In February 2001, in a joint venture between CryptoSafari and the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club (BCSCC), a research team traveled to Cameroon consisting of William Gibbons, Scott T. Norman, John Kirk and writer Robert A. Mullin. Their local guide was Pierre Sima Noutchegeni. They were also accompanied by a [[BBC]] filmcrew. However, no evidence of Mokele-mbembe was found.<ref>[http://www.cryptosafari.com/en/research/index.php CryptoSafari: Exploring the World's Hidden Wonders<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>http://www.bcscc.ca/mokele.htm The British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club</ref> ===2006=== * In January 2006, the Milt Marcy Expedition traveled to the Dja river in [[Cameroon]], near the Congolese border. It consisted of Milt Marcy, Peter Beach, Rob Mullin and Pierre Sima. They spoke to witnesses that claimed to have observed a Mokele-mbembe only two days before<ref>[http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/mm-marcy-update/ Cryptomundo.com - Mokele-mbembe Expedition Update]</ref>, however they did not discover the animal themselves. * A May 2006 episode called "Super Snake" of the [[National Geographic]]-series "[[Dangerous Encounters]]" included an expedition headed by Dr. [[Brady Barr]] to Lake Tele. No unknown animals were found. ===2008=== * In March 2008 An episode of the [[SciFi Channel]] original series "[[Destination Truth]]" involves investigator Josh Gates and crew searching for the elusive dinosaur. However, it must be noted that they did not visit the [[Likouala Region]], which includes [[Lake Tele]], but they visited [[Lake Bangweulu]] in [[Zambia]] instead, which had reports of a similar creature in the early 20th century, called the "'nsanga" as earlier described in this article. It must be noted that the crew of Destination Truth kept calling the animal "Mokele-Mbembe" to the locals, when that name is only used in the [[Republic of the Congo]]. Their episode featured a videotaped close encounter, but filmed from a great distance. Although the video is authentic, it might be nothing more then two submerged hippopotami. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49BwfSkXggM&hl] ==Popular culture== *[[James Blish]]'s 1962 science fiction novel, ''The Night Shapes'', centered upon Mokèlè-mbèmbé. *In 1985 a movie was released based on the rumours about Mokèlè-mbèmbé, called ''[[Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend]]''. It featured American scientists who discovered a surviving family of sauropods in Central Africa. *A fictional book was written about this creature called ''[[Cryptid Hunters]]'' by [[Roland Smith]]. *In White Wolf's [[Roleplaying game|RPG]] ''[[World of Darkness]]'', the Mokole are one of the "[[Changing Breed]]s". They shapeshift into reptilian forms such as crocodiles, alligators and gila monsters, but can also take attributes from dinosaurs and even dragons. * A game module for the [[roleplaying game]] ''[[Conspiracy X]]'', is titled ''Bodyguard of Lies 2: Mokolé''. *In the online videogame ''[[Steppenwolf (online video game)|Steppenwolf]]'', the first chapter focuses on finding the Mokèlè Mbèmbè. *In the book ''[[Mortal Engines]]'', by [[Phillip Reeve]], the character Captain Khora is an African with an airship called the Mokele Mbembe. *The [[Pokémon]], [[Tropius]], bears a distinct resemblance to the Mokélé-Mbémbé, and also shares some features. *In [[Uncharted Waters#Uncharted Waters: New Horizons|Uncharted Waters: New Horizons]], the Mokele Mbembe is a discovery. *In the novel ''Reptilia'', written by [[Thomas Thiemeyer]], the Mokèlè-mbèmbé is a mutated prehistoric reptile. *The 92nd novel in [[the Destroyer]] series, ''Last Dragon'', features Mokele m'bembe as a surviving strain of apatosuars which Chiun values for the longevity supposedly conveyed by eating their bones. *In the video game [[Guild Wars]] [[Nightfall]], there is a species of creatures named Mokeles and a skill named after them called Mokele Smash. ==See also== *[[Emela-ntouka]] *[[Ngoubou]] *[[Mbielu-Mbielu-Mbielu]] *[[Nguma-monene]] *[[Sirrush]] *[[Kasai rex]] *[[Cryptids]] *[[Living dinosaurs]] ==References== <references/> ==Bibliography== *Gibbons, William J., ''Missionaries And Monsters''; Coachwhip Publications, 2006 *Leal, M. E., 2004. ''The African rainforest during the Last Glacial Maximum, an archipelago of forests in a sea of grass''; Wageningen: Wageningen University: ISBN 90-8504-037-x *Ley, Willie, ''Exotic Zoology''; New York: Capricorn Books, 1966 (trade paperback edition) *Mackal, Roy P. ''A Living Dinosaur? In Search of Mokele-Mbembe''; Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1987: ISBN 90-04-08543-2 *Ndanga, Alfred Jean-Paul (2000) 'Réflexion sur une légende de Bayanga: le Mokele-mbembe', in ''Zo'', 3, 39-45. *Nugent, Rory (1993) ''Drums along the Congo: on the trail of Mokele-Mbembe, the last living dinosaur.'' Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0-395-58707-7 or ISBN 0-395-67071-3 * Redmond O'Hanlon, ''No Mercy: A Journey Into the Heart of the Congo'', 1997 *Regusters, H.A.(1982) ''Mokele - Mbembe: an investigation into rumors concerning a strange animal in the Republic of the Congo, 1981'' (Munger Africana library notes, vol. 64). Pasadena: California institute of technology. http://www.cryptoarchives.com/1900/1980/1981-regusters.pdf * [[Karl Shuker|Shuker, Karl P.N.]], ''In Search of Prehistoric Survivors.'' London: Blandford, 1995: ISBN 0-7137-2469-2 * Sjögren, Bengt, ''Berömda vidunder'', Settern, 1980, ISBN 91-7586-023-6 {{sv icon}} ==External links== *[http://www.livingdinos.com/mokele_mbembe.html Up to date information on Africa's Dinosaur] *[http://www.mokelembembe.com/ Mokele-mbembe: The Living Dinosaur] *[http://www.cryptozoology.com/cryptids/mokele.php Mokele-Mbeme] *[http://www.subversiveelement.com/CongoDinosaur.html Congo Dinosaur] *[http://www.genesispark.com/genpark/emela/emela.htm A similar Congolese cryptid animal called the '''emela ntouka''']. [[Category:Cryptozoology]] [[Category:Pygmy mythology]] [[Category:African legendary creatures]] [[Category:Lake cryptids]] [[Category:Reptile cryptids]] [[Category:Cryptids]] [[da:Mokele-Mbembe]] [[de:Mokéle-mbêmbe]] [[es:Mokèlé-mbèmbé]] [[fr:Mokele-mbembe]] [[it:Mokele Mbembe]] [[ln:Mokɛle-mbɛmbe]] [[nl:Mokele-mbembe]] [[ja:モケーレ・ムベンベ]] [[pl:Mokele-Mbembe]] [[pt:Mokele-mbembe]] [[fi:Mokele mbembe]] [[th:โมเคเล เอ็มเบ็มบี]] [[zh:魔克拉-姆邊貝]] {{Template:Cryptozoology}}