As you read this, a small group of intrepid, pink-nosed Brits are creeping through the Gambian jungle, dodging crocodiles and cobras, in the hope of spotting the legendary "ninki-nanka". This fabulously named creature is said by locals to resemble a giant reptile, up to 30 feet long and dwelling in the murk of the mangrove swamps. The "dragon" is rumoured to look rather like a game of zoological "consequences", possessing the body of a crocodile, the neck of a giraffe and the head of a horse with three horns. Less fantastically, the team's leader, Richard Freeman of the Centre for Fortean Zoology, suspects the ninki-nanka of being a species of colossal monitor lizard. "Whatever the truth," he says, "this is the first dedicated expedition to search for this animal."So far, the explorers' blog hasn't revealed any sightings. At a slaughterhouse, they were ceremonially presented with some ninki-nanka scales, which turned out to be pieces of rotted film - "certainly not biological", says Freeman.

"However, we have acquired a sample to test when we get back to the UK, as it would be bad science not to investigate every claim."More encouraging are the witnesses. A compelling chap called Papa Jinda had described a scene of devastation at a pumping station where, the blog gushes, "a ninki-nanka had destroyed several pipes". It continues: "The mention of a ninki-nanka had caused a panic among the workers, and they had asked for a mirror as it was thought that the only way to get rid of the animal was to show it its reflection.

View: Full Article | Source: The Independent

It sounds like a cross between a monitor lizard and some kind of funky sauropod. And the mirror thing, that's just silly.

Anyhow, I think this thing has the best name for a crypto I've ever heard. Ninki-nanka! Just saying it makes me giggle.

I hope they find something!!!

Second.

I agree with everyone above. I hope they find something and the name kills me. Ninki-Nanka sounds like nincompoop.

This sounds like it's more legend then fact. but ya would be cool if they found it, but 30 foot long lizard very questionable

it sound quite possible that this is just a myth. Why don't they just set up photo traps in the area? This helped them spot that rare rhino. Tracking any wild animal on foot, especially if you don't realy know what your looking for, is time consuming, dangerous and ultimately a waste of time. Just my opinion though, nothing like a walk through the jungle looking for a dragon, maybe they'll find big foot hiding in a cave with the abomible snowman, and the lockness monster all sitting around a table playing cards.

It's very possible this creature exists.
For the longest time the Komodo was thought to be a myth too, but they finally confirmed its existence. So whats so impossible about another large reptile?
It'd be an amazing find! I looove reptiles!
Alot of creatures go so long being assumed a myth or extinct before finally discovered.

A 30 foot lizard that could prolly eat you alive in a gulp and its called ninki nanka.... i suspect polar bears would kill alot more unsuspecting people if they had been named... ooody doodys :-))

A fantastical creature like this doesn't exist...even a large monitor is unlikely...The only known large monitor is megalania prisca of Australia.

Interesting, but as i've said before in the large snakes threads in crypto, being 30 foot long is not really massively possible would take ages to pump blood round the body etc.

But would be great to discover it as someone posted before the Komodo has been proved true why not this.