Cryptids of Liberia
Friday January 25, 2008 8:43 AM
From the dense forests of Liberia come reports of two interesting cryptid species: the Kumbway and the Gbahali. According to a report from John-Mark Sheppard, the Kumbway is a large reptilian creature about 15-20 feet long, with huge scales, thick powerful claws, and spines all over its back. The man who told Sheppard about the Kumbway claimed to have shot one in the face and then eaten it.
The Gbahali is even bigger than the Kumbway. It resembles an alligator or crocodile, but much bigger, with three rows of spines running down its back. Sheppard says that villagers used to catch the Gbahali and sell its meat in the local markets, but that the only known Gbahali skull was destroyed in a fire. The Gbahali is similar in appearance to a Postosuchus, an extinct species of dinosaur. However, the Postosuchus was found in Arizona, not Liberia
If the Kumbway or Gbahali were ever discovered, it wouldn't be the first time a new species of animal was found in Liberia. The pygmy hippopotamus was thought to be a myth until Karl Hagenbeck, a German zoo director, brought the first live specimens back from Liberia in 1913. With its dense forests and sparse population, it's no wonder there are so many reported sightings of heretofore unknown species.
