Mitla (cryptid)
Grouping | Cryptid |
---|---|
Sub grouping | mammal |
Country | Bolivia |
Region | Madidi forest |
Habitat | rainforest |
The Bolivian Mitla, also known as Fawcett's Cat-Dog is a medium-sized carnivoran and described as a cat-like dog or canid-looking felid from the rainforest in Bolivia. The report comes from Lieutenant Colonel Percy Fawcett who spent time in Bolivia between 1906-1914. Jeremy Mallinson, the director of Jersey Zoo (now Durrell Wildlife Park) searched for the Mitla in 1960.
The Mitla may be a canid, or a genus of cat similar to the jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi). Some authors suspect that it is feline, but more likely it is a dog, and a relative of the short-eared dog (Atelocynus microtis). Dr. Karl Shuker described it as a mysterious dog with feline behavior (T. Pietrzak, unpublished.).
The place where Lieutenant Colonel Fawcett saw the mitla may be situated in forests eastern of Cuzco region near to Madidi jungle (established in 1995 to range Bolivian National Park), (Exploration Fawcett, 1953). This is also where Atelocynus microtis lives, which some writers say is the mitla, although the mitla is almost twice as big, and darker in colour.
External links
- List of cryptids. Possible Cryptids of the World by BCSCC.
References
- Mystery Cats of the World. Karl P.N. Shuker (1989), Robert Hale, ISBN 0-7090-3706-6
- The Beasts That Hide From Man. Karl P.N. Shuker (2003), Paraview, ISBN 1-931044-64-3
- Extraordinary Animals Revisited . Karl P.N. Shuker (2007), CFZ Press, ISBN 1-905723-17-2
- Bolivian Exploration, 1913-1914 P. H. Fawcett. The Geographical Journal, Vol. 45, No. 3 (Mar.,1915), pp. 219–228 doi:10.2307/1779796
- Exploration Fawcett. P.H. Fawcett, Brian Fawcett. 1953. Phoenix Press; New Ed edition. (December 31, 2001). 368 pages. ISBN 1-84212-468-4