Another example is the Okapi. It is a very weird antelope species that seems to be a mix of several animals. It has the hindparts of a zebra, the foreparts of a kudu, and a medley of other stuff. The natives would speak of the beast but the naturalists would always say that was impossible. Until the Okapi was 'discovered' (i always laugh at that word) in the 50s or 60s.
There are other examples where the natives (from all around the world) would say certain beasts existed, but naturalists (who had never even set foot in those places) would always say that was a farce or a hoax or mind-numbed delirium! Australia alone (eg the platypus and the thylacine were originally thought to be the result of Aborigines drinking too much honeywine) had so many such cases that naturalists went to the other extreme after some time and started accepting all sorts of creatures as real even when they weren't.
Anyways, i am certain that there is some sort of beast in Central Africa that is larger than the known apes. It might be a different species from those that we already know, or it could be a much larger variant (but same species) of the 'normal' chimp or 'rilla. For example in the Virunga mountain range (also known as the 'mountains of the moon') both plant and animals get really big (the plants getting much bigger. Possies the size of two fingers get to the size of half a human torso, and small grasses get up to ten feet tall. Animals, due to their morphology, do not get to be nearly as big. Thus no giant animals .....but leopards the size of lions have been caught, and elephants are slightly larger than the largest 'normal' bush and forest elephants. Not nearly as big as the plant divergence, but noticeable nonetheless. Scientists say the volcanic soil has to do something with the plant size). Thus something similar may occur when it comes to these apes.
But i would not be surprised if it was an entirely new species.
Now, for something truly terrifying, do a search for a creature called Mokelele Mbembe. Now, that is terrifying. Here is a picture taken of a footprint left by the Mokelele.
Another favorite of mine are reports of giant snakes. The longest snake in the world is the Reticulated Python of Asia (a reported 33 feet in the largest captured), and the largest/heaviest is the South American Anaconda (that can be up to twice as heavy as a Reticulated of the same size, although no Anaconda has ever been captured that matches the longest Reticulated in length). The African Rock python is said to be the third or fourth longest, but (again) we are talking of captured specimens. For example, if i was an alien being and i capture a human, chances are he would be a little under 6ft in height (unless i land in Scandinavia where the average is above 6 ft). But there are millions of individuals above 6ft (eg me), and thousands around the world above 6.5, and hundreds above 7ft. And there are a few above 8 ft. Hence the alien might say the largest human captured for anal probing was 6 ft 3 inches, BUT there are chaps out there that make 6.3 seem small.
Anyways, this picture was taken by a helicopter pilot over the Congo in 1958 (again ...the Congo!). It shows a python of great size (estimates of 40-50 feet), and the photo was authenticated.
The picture above was taken in 1959 by a Belgium helicopter pilot, Col. Remy Van Lierde, while on patrol over the congo. The snake he saw measured approximately 40 to 50 feet in length, dark brown/green with a white belly. It had triangle shaped jaws and a head about 3 ft x 2 ft. Experts have analyzed the pictures and have verified them as authentic. They also have verified the size of the creature by matching ground features to the snake. As the helicopter flew in lower the snake raised up 10 feet and looked as if it would strike at the helicopter if they flew any closer.
Do these creatures exist? I would say a BIG NO so that people do not think i am nuts. HOWEVER, i would never ever think of trudging alone through the Congo. There are things in this world i'd rather not find out. I have the same maxim for the Lochness monster, i.e, though i may not believe in it i will NOT go boating on that loch in a single-man kayak!