One of the mysterious creatures steeped in legend from one of the least known places in the world – Papua New Guinea – is the Monckton devil pig.
There were reports of sightings of this animal in 1906, when witnesses described it as a large marsupial living in the Owen Stanley Range. They inhabit high-altitude areas with grasslands, bushes, and forests.
A description of the mysterious animal on this island.
According to descriptions, this creature is large with a strange face. It has a short tail, clawed feet, and patterned dark skin. Its claws leave prints on the ground resembling those of ungulates.
In the late 19th century, sailors visiting this island occasionally found large piles of feces in coastal forests. The locals referred to it as a gigantic pig. During an expedition to the area, William MacGregor also reported seeing this mysterious animal but was unable to collect a specimen upon his return.
Stories about this animal became a topic of discussion. In fact, many people sought to find them but were unsuccessful due to the harsh natural conditions that hindered their efforts.
Two individuals who were fortunate enough to see this animal upon their return reported that their guides ran away, calling it a demon. They even appeared at the explorers’ camp at night.
The scant evidence about them has led many to speculate that they are nocturnal creatures; analyzing their droppings suggests they might be carnivorous rather than herbivorous as previously thought.
Media outlets at the time embellished the story of this animal. Some newspapers even claimed that this creature stood nearly 8 meters tall and attacked local inhabitants.
To this day, information about this animal remains vague and unverified. It continues to be a target for many adventure-seekers and explorers.
