MUIRHEAD'S MYSTERIES: Death by Cryptid

I have today been looking at a story from 1928 on the death of a significant number of people from eating the meat of a cryptid tortoise-like animal found dead in the ancient kingdom of Travancore in south-west India in 1928. I`m aware (thanks to Chad Arment, see links 1 and 2.) that eating tortoise or turtle meat can kill, but this story involves a cryptid apparently:

Sunday Times ( Perth, W.Australia) 30^th September 1928

POISON TRAGEDY

Eighteen Persons Succumb

Through Eating Flesh of Giant Sea Animal

Calcutta Saturday Sept 29^th

Eighteen deaths have occurred in a fishing village in Travancore as the result of four families eating the flesh of a sea animal resembling a giant tortoise, which was caught nibbling the nets spread on the shore. Half of the flesh was divided among the captors and the rest sold in the market. Twelve members of families died after a feast and many who bought the flesh in the market are seriously ill, while six died.

Experts examined the shell and declare it is not an ordinary tortoise , and the species is unknown. The local government has ordered an enquiry into the tragedy.(3)

(Could this be the highest death toll by a single cryptid – albeit a dead one? – R)

1. http://www.nation.sc/index.php?art=22502

2.  http://pacificfamilyhealth.wordpress.com/2009/06/25/turtle-meat-poisoning-in-papua-new-guinea-a-review-of-literature/

3. Sunday Times Sept 30^th 1928