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Little is known about the emela-ntouka, a theorized animal that kills but doesn't eat elephants, lurks in the Congo and is feared immensely by the natives who share its territory. Its name means "killer of the elephants" in the Lingala language.
Physical Descripition
The emela-ntouka is thought to be around the size of an African elephant, slimy green, brown, or gray in colour, and of similar shape and appearance to a rhinoceros, including one long ivory horn on its snout. Keeping its massive bulky body above ground level likely requires four short, stump-like legs, and a long crocodile tail. It is assumed to have a set of long, sharp teeth, as it has been reported to battle elephants and kill natives.
Home
This cryptid is thought to mainly inhabit the vast shallow waters in the Likouala swamp. Very rarely has the Emela-Notouka been observed in herds or groups; they are thought to be lone "hunters". Or perhaps it should be said, lone herbivores, since almost every theory about their identity points to their being something herbivorous. Cryptozoologists say that, in all likelyhood, their tendency to kill elephants is an issue of food competition. It is supposedly semi-amphibious.
Explanation?
The first rational explanation that jumps to mind after reading the descripition of the emela-ntouka is a Rhinoceros. Many zoologists, however, strongly disagree with this theory . Critics of this theory say that the idea of an amphibious rhino is suspect, and that the cryptid in question doesn't really resemble a rhinoceros. The emela-ntouka is supposedly has a horn composed not of hair, like the rhino, but of ivory. Also of note is the large reptilian tail, which seems to suggest that if this beast is real, it is not a mammal.
Another slightly more popular theory is that the mysterious monster is in fact a surviving ceratopsian. Proponents of this theory believe that the Congo is home to many prehistoric animals, including the Kongamato (a living pterosaur), the nandi bear (a living sabretooth cat, or possibly an extinct atlas bear), and the mokele mbembe (an apatosaurus).
See also
External links
"Emela-ntouka"