Kongamato - Allison - Fifth Hour

Deep within central Africa among the rivers and large bodies of water is a creature known to harm and kill man. Quickly this large flying creature is said to appear suddenly and pick at any human flesh the monster can find. Located mostly in Zambia, this pterodactyl-like bird most commonly called the Kongamato (overwhelmer of boats) is feared by most natives. The Kongamato is described as having no feathers, smooth black or red skin, a wingspan between 4 ft. and 7 ft., and possessing a beak full of teeth. With these outrageous descriptions, some people believe the natives to be crazy for believing in a flying, giant reptile, but could the Natives possible be stating the tragic reality?

In the year 1925 a research traveler named Frank Melland collected native reports of the Kongamato. Surprisingly in each report the creature was described with the same looks and the same behavior patterns. This credible data led Melland to began even more research on the kongamato. Soon after many other pieces of credible information came together. Melland noticed that all the sightings of the Kongamato where located in pretty much the same area, consisting of Congo, Zambia, Cameroon, and Angola. Every native seemed to have seen the same creature in the same certain places. The kongamato also seems to be credible because in the prehistoric ages pterodactyls existed, and the looks of the Kongamato seem to lean towards them as an ancestor. Perhaps the Kongamato lived through the ice age and the extinction of dinosaurs.

Besides many sightings by credible eye witness reports, no physical evidence has been discovered to prove the Kongamato exists. Many natives clam to be attacked and close to the point of death, but that does not prove the attacks were caused by a Kongamato. It could of just possibly been caused by some other existing, dangerous animal. Over the course of 50 years or more the Kongamato has been supposedly destroying people on the rivers of Africa, yet not one Kongamato has every been discovered. If a population of Kongamatos were actually living then they must also be dying, so why are no Kongamato bodies discovered? Unless these creatures are immortal the bodies of their deceased should be already found. The only way to prove to the world this cryptic is out there is by finding a body dead or alive.

With all the credible and noncredible knowledge discovered, I am on the fence whether I believe like the natives do on if the Kongamato is real. Half of me wants to think the Kongamato is real because of all the incredible stories and sighting, yet I am a firm believer in physical evidence and accurate facts. If a body is discovered and identified as a Kongamato then the truth will be found and the Natives would be not seen as crazy. Hopefully soon that discovery will be made to prove many people wrong including me.

Reference Sheet

Freeblog: Kongamato picture. Date retrieved- April 6, 2009.
Genesis Park: The Kongamato of Africa. Date retrieved- April 7, 2009
Unknown Explorers Online Resources: Kongamato. Date retrieved- April 7, 2009.
Buzzle.com: Facts on the Kongamato of Africa. Date retrieved- April 7, 2009. of-africa.htm>l
Philippe-Coudray. Date retrieved- April 9, 2009. /Kongamato-aquarelle-1.jpg>