Dear folks,Whilst browsing through the chronicling America website again today I quickly came across a possible 'new' cryptid, but bear in mind I have only done a cursory Google search for it. In 1896 a zoologist in an equatorial region of West Africa came across what he described as a bear-ape or Ikanda. The story was published in the Marietta daily leader of August 17th 1896. The zoologist thought it was a new species of potto or ape-like creature. The description of its fur makes it appear to be a Golden Potto (Arctocebus aureus) but I know nothing about these animals so it could be something else altogether. The zoologist R. L. Garner already knew of two pottos or angwantibos, he thought it was neither but similar to them. Fortunately we have illustrations of parts of its body, namely the hands and feet.
I quote:
'THE IKANDA OR BEAR-APE Prof.Garner Tells of the Queer Little Beast Discovered In Africa. It Never “Loses Its Grip – Strange Story Told By The Natives of How It Is Used for Catching Leopards.
In the forests of Central Africa there live many strange creatures, some of them as yet unknown to science. One of the most singular of these belongs to the Simian family, but is very low down in the scale. I have a specimen which I kept in captivity for a number of months, during which time I gave considerable attention to its habits. So far as I am able to learn, it is an entirely new species of a small group known as slow lemurs. Up to this time there have only been two species of this genus known in Africa, but the specimen in my possession is not identical with either. I have never found a specimen of it in any museum, either in this country or abroad, and I have found no zoologist who has ever seen or known one. It is neither a potto nor an awantibo though it doubtless belongs to that group, being included in the genus of lemuroids called “ Arctocebus” ie bear apes.
The native name of this animal is “Ikanda” and it appears to be confined to a small scope of country along the equator in West Central Africa…It is uncertain how far it extends to the interior…In his general appearance the Ikanda is like a miniature bear. It is from this fact that the name “arctocebus” has been conferred upon him. Every movement is exactly like that of a bear, the ears nose and tail are also like those of a bear…The most singular physical features are the hands and feet, which are shown in the drawings. The hand is a perfect human hand in every respect, except the want of an index finger….[the article then goes into a highly detailed account of the hands and feet, which I do not have time to include here - R]
'The body is covered with a dense growth of soft hair,almost like fur. It is a dark brown in color, but somewhat lighter on the under side of the body. The nose is quit bare and very black.
I have never seen one of these animals in the adult, but apparently they grow to be 14 or 15 inches in length (1)… The article then goes on to describe the resting and eating habits of the Ikanda. But there is nothing about its ability to catch leopards!
Marietta Daily Leader August 17th 1896.
Richard
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