| ||||||||||||||
The n'gooli[1] or súà nà ngo[2] (Baka: "water panther"), usually simply called the water panther, is a water lion reported from southeastern Cameroon's Boumba, Dja, and Lokomo Rivers.[3][4][5]
Attestations[]
Michel Ballot has collected accounts of the n'gooli, including alleged first-hand sightings,[6] during his several expeditions to the Boumba and Lokomo Rivers, particularly around the Nki Falls. During his expedition to this region with Ballot, Bill Gibbons also heard of the water panther. The Baka interviewed by Gibbons were adamant that the water panther is not a leopard, or any other known cat he suggested.[5] Robert Brisson also includes a definition of a "water panther" in his Baka-French dictionary, Petit Dictionnaire Baka-Français: Sud-Cameroun (2010).
Description[]
The n'gooli somewhat resembles a leopard, but is larger, and is sometimes said to have a mane like a lion.[5] According to two alleged eyewitnesses, it has very large front teeth, which protrude from its upper jaw.[4][6] The n'gooli preferentially lives in rocky areas of the river, around falls and rapids,[7] supposedly sleeping in underwater burrows.[2] It lives and breeds in the water,[2] being a powerful swimmer and diver,[5] but will pursue its prey onto land after launching an ambush from the water.[2][5] It hunts gorillas which come to the riverside to drink,[4][6] and is also believed to be capable of killing small elephants.[2] The n'gooli is said to be mainly active in the late night and early morning,[6] when it disturbs the fishing nets used by locals.[8] Local people greatly fear the n'gooli,[4] which is said to be a rare and very discreet animal.[6]
Notes and references[]
- ↑ Ballot, Michel (2014) À La Recherche du Mokélé-Mbembé, TRESOR, ISBN 979-1091534116
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Brisson, Robert (2010) Petit Dictionnaire Baka-Français: Sud-Cameroun
- ↑ Coudray, Philippe (2009) Guide des Animaux Cachés, Editions du Mont, ISBN 978-2915652383
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Ballot, Michel Mokele - Mbembe Expeditions: L'Expedition de Juin - Juillet 2010 mokelembembeexpeditions.blogspot.com (9 July 2010) [Accessed 19 February 2021] — Wayback Machine
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Bill Gibbons Answers Your Questions (2017) — Online
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Ballot, Michel Le Lion d'Eau au Gabon? groups.google.com (21 February 2011 & 22 February 2011) [Accessed 27 March 2021]
- ↑ Ballot, Michel Expédition d'Octobre mokelembembeexpeditions.blogspot.com (3 February 2008) [Accessed 27 March 2021]
- ↑ Ballot, Michel Notre Expedition de Janvier 2010 mokelembembeexpeditions.blogspot.com (12 February 2010) [Accessed 27 March 2021]