DeepSummary
The episode discusses legends and stories of ancient creatures that have supposedly survived extinction events and are still present today, referred to as 'living fossils.' One example is the Moa, a large flightless bird that was hunted to extinction by early Polynesian settlers in New Zealand, but some believe it may still exist due to reported sightings as late as the 1990s. Another discussed is the Nahualito, supposedly a plesiosaur-like creature inhabiting a lake in Argentina that has been described by alleged witnesses.
The episode also covers the Mokele-mbembe, a purported living dinosaur in the Congo region that has been part of local folklore for centuries. Stories of it attacking hippos and humans are recounted, including a claim that villagers killed one in 1959, which resulted in the deaths of those who consumed its meat. Expeditions to find evidence of its existence have had varying levels of success.
The coelacanth, a prehistoric fish once thought extinct but rediscovered in 1938, is provided as an example of a real 'living fossil' that managed to survive to the present day. The host ponders the allure of such creatures representing pockets of the past persisting against all odds.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Ancient creatures once thought extinct may have survived to the present day as 'living fossils'
- Legends and alleged sightings of such creatures persist in various cultures and locales
- While unverified, these tales tap into wonder at life's tenacity overcoming extinction
- The discovery of the coelacanth fish represents a real 'living fossil' once presumed extinct
- The plausibility of 'living fossil' myths is debated but they continue to captivate imaginations
- Sightings are not proof, but do represent intriguing possibilities about life in unexplored regions
- So far the Mokele-mbembe legend from the Congo has the most substantial reported sighting records
- Overall, the notion that pockets of the prehistoric could still exist today engenders both skepticism and hope
Top Episodes Quotes
- “Since the 1950s, a popular theory has arisen regarding cryptids, essentially that they are much older than we realize. Some might even call them living fossils.“ by Aaron Manke
- “In the 1870s, for example, a british trader in nearby Gabon claimed to have had a similar experience when he wrote in his memoirs that the prints he had seen were about the size of a good frying pan in circumference and had three claws instead of five.“ by Aaron Manke
- “Marjorie knew that she had to get it back to the museum, but the taxi driver took one look and probably one whiff of the fish and told her no, he wouldnt drive her with that thing stinking up his cab.“ by Aaron Manke
- “Because as I said before, life finds a way.“ by Aaron Manke
- “Theres something attractive about ancient holdovers from movies and tv shows like the Highlander or Marvels eternals. This notion of something from deep in the past managing to stick around into the present is a thrilling idea.“ by Aaron Manke
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Episode Information
Lore
Aaron Mahnke
4/29/24
Some of the most frightening—and fascinating—stories in folklore are all about living remnants from the distant past. Let’s go hunting, shall we?
Narrated and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with writing by Harry Marks and research by Cassandra de Alba.
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