Ancient Australian folklore tells of a legendary beast that comes out at night to devour unsuspecting cattle, taking one silently by crushing it's neck with tremendous force (killing it instantly) while it sleeps and disappearing into the bush. Ranchers in the Northern Territory can vouch for this phenomenon, as many have reported finding a bull belonging to their herd found mutilated and only partially eaten. The bones of one individual has actually been studied under the scrutiny of wildlife biologist and ossification specialist Francis Haagenburg, PhD of the University of Melbourne in 2006. He noticed that the bones had teeth marks distinct from any known animal. The marks were compared to that of a lion, a mako shark, and a saltwater crocodile (the largest species of crocodilian in the world). The tooth marks on the bones were identical to none of the aforementioned animals still in existence today. In fact, many more animal teeth were compared, from both living and extinct animals, and one stuck out from the others as it matched up precisely. A tyrannosaurus rex tooth was a perfect fit in the grooves made into the bones. In addition, the bovine's carcass was fresh upon the anonymous rancher's find, having been killed within a day or two prior to the time of the find.
The Aborigine name for this incredible beast is the Burrunjor, and even the mention of this creature sends a chill through the spines of the natives. Even in some parts of the bush, it is strictly forbidden to engage in conversation about the creature. The white locals of the region, however, are slightly more open about telling their stories of encounters of this elusive beast. Most reports are of the terrifying roars, and sometimes deep bellows, it makes in the distance at night. Others say they are periodically awaken by loud thumping that send vibrations through the ground beneath their beds or hammocks. But nearly all witnesses of these occurrences say that an unnatural fear takes control of their motor functions and most people run or are too afraid to move to pay attention to other details of the event.
The Burrunjor is said to reach lengths of 25 to 30 feet, about 20 feet in stature, and leave tracks about three feet long. It ranges from the outskirts of Cloncurry to the furthest northern reaches of Arnhem Land, thus encircling the Gulf of Carpentaria. This region is one of the least explored areas on Earth, and very few people live there due to the hostile desert environment. Nearer to the coast in some areas, however, jungles and swamps prevail, thus making a great unexplored region for the Burrunjor to thrive. Although, most reports of the Burrunjor claim that it prefers the barrenness of the desert and scrubland. This seems somewhat unusual due to the fact that such a large creature, it would seem, would have a difficult time finding enough large prey to sustain itself. Kangaroos and wallabies inhabit the region, as do wombats and even feral camels. Camels may be a source of food for the Burrunjor, but it hasn't always been, as it is introduced into the region from past explorers. There may just be enough kangaroos to sustain a small population of Burrunjors, but there have actually been reported sightings (albeit only a few) of the Muttaburrasaurus in the region. A couple reported seeing a herd of four individuals somewhere between the Gulf of Carpentaria and the Muttaburra region, for which the dinosaur was found and named. They claimed there were four large, grey dinosaurs seen from a distance of about mile across a valley. They saw them clearly in the light of day, browsing on eucalyptus branches, and making a loud, nasal bellow which is very much in line with what paleontologists have speculated it once did. This possibility may seem implausible, but makes for great conversation. Food for thought.
A renowned cryptozoologist, Rex Gilroy, has been on the trail of unusual phenomena throughout Australia for most of his life. He has discovered ruins of lost cities from civilizations long forgotten and documented countless reports of sightings of the Yowie: Australia's bigfoot species. But perhaps one of his most well-known findings include a trail of fresh, three-toed prints that are attributed to the Burrunjor. The tracks were the same size and shape as that of fossilized Tyrannosaurus rex prints. Gilroy casted one of the tracks, and the photograph can be seen at http://www.genesispark.com/exhibits/evidence/cryptozoological/the-therapod-enclosure/the-burrunjor-of-australia/ .
Lake Murray, Papua New Guinea. The locals report a huge creature similar in size to the Burrunjor, but with a few behavioral differences than that of its Australian counterpart. The Lake Murray Monster (not to be confused with the North Carolinian sea creature of the same name) is said to roam in the swamps and islands (about 400 of them) of Lake Murray. It supposedly lives a semi-aquatic life, similar to the hippopotamus. Even Mokele-mbembe is reported to be semi-aquatic, lending credence to the speculation that many dinosaurs that are still reported to exist today are rarely seen partially because much of they time they are underwater. This website has much more information regarding the Lake Murray Monster: http://www.genesispark.com/exhibits/evidence/cryptozoological/the-therapod-enclosure/the-lake-murray-monster-of-papua-new-guinea/
This is another website I highly recommend taking a peek at: http://creation.com/more-dino-sightings-png
The Kasai Rex has an interesting story to it. This cryptid is surrounded by immense ignorance and many hoaxes and false sightings are documented under this name. The truth behind the myth is purely speculation, as is the case with the entire field of cryptozoology! However, the real Kasai Rex is a cryptid reported by diamond miners, fishermen, and explorers that resembles most closely a Spinosaurus. For a more realistic idea of how Spinosaurus may have looked (in contrast to popular belief), watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oCqSqY7FiI
The Spinosaurus would most closely resemble the Kasai Rex due to its very behavior. The Kasai Rex is, according to one villager living near the Kasai River in the DRC, mostly piscivorous: feeding mostly off fish living in the river, and every now and then coming up on land for a larger meal. The Kasai Rex lives in the shadows of the Congo Jungle, is rarely seen, and is thought to be dwindling into even smaller numbers, which is also supposedly the case for another cryptid: the J'ba Fofi.
For a little background information, the Congo is an incalculable number of square miles of rugged, impassable jungle. It remains the least explored jungle in the world, and the number one largest least explored area on Earth! Therefore, it is not too inconceivable to understand why little is known about the animal life living there. In fact, the forest elephant remained so elusive despite its elephantine size (pun intended), many believed it to simply be the same species as the entirely different savannah elephant until recently. The okapi was only discovered as recently as 1901 by Ray Lankester. The jungle has been known to human history since human history began to be documented. The gorilla was discovered in 1847, but was known to the Carthaginians since the year 500 BC and obviously the local African tribes since the beginning of their contact with them. Even the Bili Apes remained a mystery until June of 2006! Hopefully that sheds some light on the size of the Congo.
The true story of the Kasai Rex is still somewhat of a mystery, as the story told by John Johnson is quite scrutinized by even the most hardened cryptozoological enthusiast. The only way we will ever know more about this incredibly elusive beast is by finding out ourselves, or hoping someone else will.
These three incredible and intriguing cryptids are by far some of the least-known cryptids, as the little information there is on them is questionable and often hoaxed. Unfortunately, we may not know much more about these creatures, if they do exist at all, without further expeditions taking place to learn more. The local people live in these remote areas, learning about the world around them and seeing creatures that no one else may ever see. These rare glimpses into the Goblin Universe (as the realm of cryptids is referred to as, despite its unorthodox title) provide us with tidbits of insider knowledge and further hope that we may one day learn the truth.