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Nandi Bear |
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The Nandi Bear is an unknown large predator that is said to dwell in the Kenya region of Africa. It is described as having a sloping back, like a bear, and many other features like a bear. It is also described as a very vicious creature. It has the nickname "Brain Eater" by locals because it eats only the brains of it's victims. Woman are sent to get firewood and are found later, always minus the tops of their skulls. It hunts by waiting on a low lying tree branch above a path. When someone walks beneath the branch it swipes the top of their skulls off and begins to eat. This would make it unique in the bear family in the sense that it would be the only bear to consistently hunt from trees and the only bear to eat only the brains of their victims no matter the species. It would also be the only living bear in Africa. How did it get the name "Nandi Bear"? It got the name because it was first described by the Nandi tribe, who also reported it the most often. The few ways to succesfully kill the creature, the Nandi tribe says, is to catch it in a hut and then burn the hut to the ground. What could this creature be? Several identities have been put forward. One, it could be an undiscovered kind of bear. This could be plausible because Africa has such a varied landscape that there should be somewhere where a bear fits in. Two, a hyena. The sloped back of the Nandi bear is characteristic with that of a hyena. Whether an undiscovered hyena or known hyena is still at debate. And three, there is no Nandi Bear at all and that this is just a wild superstition. Seeing as how you are likely a cryptozoologist this should not be considered! As you can see the Nandi bear is and/or was an interesting beast. I hoped you enjoyed this glossary entry. Sources Encyclopedia of Monsters by Daniel Cohen and of course this site. - entry provided by Greg Solstice
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