Among the many stories that suggest that Madagascar may be the home of several strange species of monkeys, one of the most popular is the Kalanoro story.
This creature is said to be a humanoid cryptid that lives deep in the forests of Madagascar. It is claimed that kalanoro can be found throughout the island, yet encounters with it are very rare.
Locals agree that Kalanoro exists, but call it differently: kotoki or wazimba. The people of the Antakarana and Tsimikheti tribes say that in their area, Kalanoro dwells in caves. They say that Kalanoro have been on the island for over two thousand years and the first encounters with him took place when people first arrived in Madagascar.
Despite the large number of different names, the kalanoro is usually described as a monkey-like creature about 60 centimeters tall with long nails on hooked fingers. It is covered with long hair. It is sometimes said to have feathers or plates on its back. The eyes are usually described as burning with rage.
This creature is often said to love water and can be seen splashing in rivers and lakes. In some cases, Kalanoro is believed to have only three fingers pointing backward, and it is said that his eyes glow in the dark.
Like many similar creatures that are said to live in Africa, the kalanoro is a small creature with a rather complex language. Their voice is called soft, like a woman. Kalanoro prefer to live in caves, but from time to time they can visit villages in search of food. In 1886, a man named J. Herbert Smith wrote about Kalanoro.
The story appeared in one of the local magazines. It was said that as they ventured into the jungle, the explorers heard from the locals about the Kalanoro, the “wild forest man” covered with fur and bearded in the case of males. One of the witnesses said that once he stayed overnight in the forest, lit a fire and could not sleep. Gradually, the fire died out, and when the embers were just left to smolder, the man noticed a dark figure warming up at them, which fully corresponded to the description of kalanoro.
Realizing that she was noticed, the creature grabbed a stick and threw hot coals in the person's face. In another similar case, it was said that the fire attracted Kalanoro, but first a male appeared, interested in the rice left in the pot, and then, when Kalanoro was convinced that there was no threat to him, he called his girlfriend, they sat down next to the fire and began to eat from bowler hat passing it to each other.
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What the kalanoro really is remains unclear. No purposeful expeditions were undertaken to find him, since he is considered just a legend and there is no clear evidence of his existence. Perhaps this is even better for the Kalanoro themselves.
GUSAKOVA IRINA YURIEVNA