I hope you had an awesome weekend. I’ve been noticing a few hints of red on the tips of trees near Husky Stadium. The warm heavy air is splintered by cooler breezes blowing up the hills from Puget Sound. It’s giving first day of school vibes.
early Fall leaves - Little Si Trail, North Bend, September 4, 2023
early Fall leaves - University of Washington Husky Stadium, August 22, 2023
A little business:
First off, THANK YOU to those of you who completed the quick survey about what you’d like to read more about in these threads. I’m still asking for reader stories about ghosts, hiking, and other paranormal shenanigans, I’ll take it all! Please send them to me at drearydendrophile@gmail.com.
In case you can’t tell, I’m still pretty new here to Substack and steady subscribers (thank you! 🙏), and I’m still figuring out the right formula. I am committed to staying consistent with regular Thursday morning posts. However, after adding the Monday threads, I’ve been doing more Substack research and learning actually that less may be more.
This stack is a labor of love and creative outlet for me. I have many stories drafted that are waiting to see the light of day. But I don’t want to spam you all with too many posts per week. I know your time (and inbox!) are precious and we are trying to go for quality here, not necessarily quantity.
early Fall leaves - Boulder Garden Loop Trail, North Bend, September 4, 2023
So that said, I’m thinking every other week we have the usual post, and the weeks in between we have a fun, lighter, shorter thread with (hopefully) more reader stories and engagement. This keeps things consistent on Thursdays, creates less spam for you, and more time for me to write and edit and photograph so the long-form stories are that much better. If I end up with any more multi-part stories, I will try to release them together so they aren’t dragging out for a month at a time.
In summary, my regular long-form posts will be moving to every other Thursday instead of every Thursday. The Monday threads will be moving to the alternate Thursdays and will now be known as Thursday threads. Let’s try it and see how it goes - we can increase the cadence later if we get more reader stories. Also doesn’t “Thursday Thread” just sound better?
Ok enough of that. Let’s have a quick cryptid corner.
You may or may not know that I happen to have two online diplomas in cryptozoology (brag, brag).
receipts! (yes that is an A+ you see as the final grade - I don’t f*ck around when it comes to cryptids)
more receipts..
I got sucked in deep two years ago and spent weeks in the public library learning the controversies over Sasquatch sightings versus Gorilla suits. Or how in the hell people confuse Mothman with a Sandhill Crane.
In fact, on my visit to Powell’s last week I found a coveted used copy of The Mothman Prophecies. Yes, the Richard Gere movie is based on a true story.
This of course prompted the cashier to tell me all about the Mothman in Love book series by Paige Lavoi. All this and more are part of Powell’s Wet Hot Monster Summer display. You’re welcome, World!
But that’s not the cryptid we’re talking about today. Today’s cryptid corner is dedicated to Mokele-mbembe, a giant sauropod river monster from the remote Congo Basin.
“The legend of this strange animal dates back centuries, passed down through generations of Indigenous tribes in Central Africa. Mokele-Mbembe, a term originating from the Lingala language of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, loosely translates to "one who stops the flow of rivers," which is where this creature allegedly resides.”
Since the late 1700s (before we were even using the term “dinosaur”), there have been sightings of large territorial reptiles near unexplored swamps and rivers in the Congo. These creatures are reported to have a long neck, a small head, grow more massive than an elephant, and look an awful lot like a Brachiosaurus. They could be anything from a myth, a spirit, a living dinosaur, even a ploy for tourism.
My favorite theory is that Mokele-mbembe are “living dinosaurs” because they allegedly never truly went extinct. Hear me out - it’s not as bonkers as it sounds.
It’s been suggested that notable monster lakes may have previously been connected to the ocean but over time they became lakes as climate change transformed the topography. Lake Champlain, thought to contain the cryptid affectionately known as “Champ,” was previously known as the Champlain Sea, until it got separated from the Atlantic Ocean. Could Champ be some kind of plesiosaur who survived the ice age and somehow got “stuck” in the wrong body of water? Unlikely but fun to consider.
In the case of the Mokele-Mbembe, the creature would have been located in the Congo extremely close to the equator. It is suggested that areas closest to the equator may not have experienced as drastic climate change during the ice age as areas further North. Several sea creatures inexplicably survived the ice age - is it possible that a river sauropod could have persisted as well?
Though similar cryptids have been reported in other regions of Africa, Lake Tele is the most commonly reported location. They are thought to dwell in extremely remote areas and stay hidden near caves, keeping to themselves and becoming extremely territorial if approached. Some claim that those who have gotten close enough to see them didn’t live to tell the tale. Although their remains were left untouched, adding to the rumor that these beings are likely herbivores. In this video, you can hear locally recorded sounds thought to be the Mokele-Mbembe. It’s absolutely terrifying.
It brings me great comfort to think of a dinosaur out there roaming the rainforest for millions of years, supposed to have died off ages ago but prevailing nonetheless. It gives me hope.
As I’m wrapping up this post, my bus drives by the Seattle Pacific Science Center and I notice a little girl walking out animatedly followed by an older couple who could be her grandparents. She’s totally oblivious to the scowls and impatience emanating from her cohort. That squinting into the sun, “Where do we have to go next? Where did we park the car?” look on their faces. Meanwhile she’s skipping and flinging her arms, presumably elated by her experience inside filled with science and the universe and…dinosaurs! I recognize that look on her face - this is how I feel when I hear about cryptids.
I think of my deceased grandparents watching over me indulgently, probably a bit bemused by my hobbies and interests. But they support me regardless, letting me live out my carefree childhood dreams in peace without criticism.
I hope we all get to entertain our inner child with the joy and wonder of what could be, the excitement of the unknown.
Thank you for reading this post by me, Dreary Dendrophile. If you haven’t subscribed yet, please consider doing so by clicking the green Subscribe button:
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monday thread - cryptid corner: why i'm obsessed with mokele-mbembe
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Hi Friends!
I hope you had an awesome weekend. I’ve been noticing a few hints of red on the tips of trees near Husky Stadium. The warm heavy air is splintered by cooler breezes blowing up the hills from Puget Sound. It’s giving first day of school vibes.
A little business:
First off, THANK YOU to those of you who completed the quick survey about what you’d like to read more about in these threads. I’m still asking for reader stories about ghosts, hiking, and other paranormal shenanigans, I’ll take it all! Please send them to me at drearydendrophile@gmail.com.
In case you can’t tell, I’m still pretty new here to Substack and steady subscribers (thank you! 🙏), and I’m still figuring out the right formula. I am committed to staying consistent with regular Thursday morning posts. However, after adding the Monday threads, I’ve been doing more Substack research and learning actually that less may be more.
This stack is a labor of love and creative outlet for me. I have many stories drafted that are waiting to see the light of day. But I don’t want to spam you all with too many posts per week. I know your time (and inbox!) are precious and we are trying to go for quality here, not necessarily quantity.
So that said, I’m thinking every other week we have the usual post, and the weeks in between we have a fun, lighter, shorter thread with (hopefully) more reader stories and engagement. This keeps things consistent on Thursdays, creates less spam for you, and more time for me to write and edit and photograph so the long-form stories are that much better. If I end up with any more multi-part stories, I will try to release them together so they aren’t dragging out for a month at a time.
In summary, my regular long-form posts will be moving to every other Thursday instead of every Thursday. The Monday threads will be moving to the alternate Thursdays and will now be known as Thursday threads. Let’s try it and see how it goes - we can increase the cadence later if we get more reader stories. Also doesn’t “Thursday Thread” just sound better?
Ok enough of that. Let’s have a quick cryptid corner.
Cryptid corner - Mokele-mbembe and a few others:
You may or may not know that I happen to have two online diplomas in cryptozoology (brag, brag).
I got sucked in deep two years ago and spent weeks in the public library learning the controversies over Sasquatch sightings versus Gorilla suits. Or how in the hell people confuse Mothman with a Sandhill Crane.
In fact, on my visit to Powell’s last week I found a coveted used copy of The Mothman Prophecies. Yes, the Richard Gere movie is based on a true story.
This of course prompted the cashier to tell me all about the Mothman in Love book series by Paige Lavoi. All this and more are part of Powell’s Wet Hot Monster Summer display. You’re welcome, World!
But that’s not the cryptid we’re talking about today. Today’s cryptid corner is dedicated to Mokele-mbembe, a giant sauropod river monster from the remote Congo Basin.
“The legend of this strange animal dates back centuries, passed down through generations of Indigenous tribes in Central Africa. Mokele-Mbembe, a term originating from the Lingala language of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, loosely translates to "one who stops the flow of rivers," which is where this creature allegedly resides.”
- Desiree Bowie. How Stuff Works - Mokele-Mbembe: The Truth Behind Africa’s Mythical River Monster
Since the late 1700s (before we were even using the term “dinosaur”), there have been sightings of large territorial reptiles near unexplored swamps and rivers in the Congo. These creatures are reported to have a long neck, a small head, grow more massive than an elephant, and look an awful lot like a Brachiosaurus. They could be anything from a myth, a spirit, a living dinosaur, even a ploy for tourism.
My favorite theory is that Mokele-mbembe are “living dinosaurs” because they allegedly never truly went extinct. Hear me out - it’s not as bonkers as it sounds.
It’s been suggested that notable monster lakes may have previously been connected to the ocean but over time they became lakes as climate change transformed the topography. Lake Champlain, thought to contain the cryptid affectionately known as “Champ,” was previously known as the Champlain Sea, until it got separated from the Atlantic Ocean. Could Champ be some kind of plesiosaur who survived the ice age and somehow got “stuck” in the wrong body of water? Unlikely but fun to consider.
In the case of the Mokele-Mbembe, the creature would have been located in the Congo extremely close to the equator. It is suggested that areas closest to the equator may not have experienced as drastic climate change during the ice age as areas further North. Several sea creatures inexplicably survived the ice age - is it possible that a river sauropod could have persisted as well?
Though similar cryptids have been reported in other regions of Africa, Lake Tele is the most commonly reported location. They are thought to dwell in extremely remote areas and stay hidden near caves, keeping to themselves and becoming extremely territorial if approached. Some claim that those who have gotten close enough to see them didn’t live to tell the tale. Although their remains were left untouched, adding to the rumor that these beings are likely herbivores. In this video, you can hear locally recorded sounds thought to be the Mokele-Mbembe. It’s absolutely terrifying.
It brings me great comfort to think of a dinosaur out there roaming the rainforest for millions of years, supposed to have died off ages ago but prevailing nonetheless. It gives me hope.
As I’m wrapping up this post, my bus drives by the Seattle Pacific Science Center and I notice a little girl walking out animatedly followed by an older couple who could be her grandparents. She’s totally oblivious to the scowls and impatience emanating from her cohort. That squinting into the sun, “Where do we have to go next? Where did we park the car?” look on their faces. Meanwhile she’s skipping and flinging her arms, presumably elated by her experience inside filled with science and the universe and…dinosaurs! I recognize that look on her face - this is how I feel when I hear about cryptids.
I think of my deceased grandparents watching over me indulgently, probably a bit bemused by my hobbies and interests. But they support me regardless, letting me live out my carefree childhood dreams in peace without criticism.
I hope we all get to entertain our inner child with the joy and wonder of what could be, the excitement of the unknown.
Sources:
Mokele-Mbembe: The Truth Behind Africa's Mythical River Monster | HowStuffWorks
https://www.fodors.com/news/photos/lake-monster-legends-from-around-the-world
Several other articles linked directly in the post above
what I’ve probably misremembered from Centre of Excellence Cryptozoology courses and Universal Class Cryptozoology 101
Thank you for reading this post by me, Dreary Dendrophile. If you haven’t subscribed yet, please consider doing so by clicking the green Subscribe button:
If you like this post, please click the heart or re-stack icons, or post a comment below. Engaging in this way helps to encourage new readers, and I would absolutely love to hear from you. You can also send me feedback by emailing drearydendrophile@gmail.com.
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Thank you for being here and for joining me on this journey. Have a super week!!