The Nandi Bear of Kenya

The Nandi Bear, also called the Chemosit or Kerit, is a large, aggressive creature reported in western Kenya. The Nandi people have extensive traditions about this animal, which attacks at night and has been blamed for deaths of livestock and humans.

The Description

Witnesses describe a creature as large as a lion but built like a bear or hyena. It has long shaggy fur, usually reddish or dark. It has a sloping back like a hyena. Its claws are formidable. It is primarily nocturnal.

The Behavior

The Nandi Bear attacks at night, preying on livestock and occasionally humans. It reportedly eats only the brains of its victims. It is extremely aggressive and feared throughout its range.

Indigenous Knowledge

The Nandi people have extensive traditions about the Chemosit dating back centuries. They consider it a genuine creature, not a spirit. Protective measures are taken against its attacks.

Colonial Reports

British colonists in Kenya reported encounters and attacks from the early 1900s. Colonial officials documented attacks on livestock and humans. Some colonists organized hunts but never captured a specimen.

Possible Identities

Proposed explanations include surviving prehistoric creatures, giant hyenas, or undiscovered bear species. Africa has no known bears, making this identity controversial. Some suggest a form of baboon or large ratel.

Assessment

The Nandi Bear represents one of Africa’s most persistent cryptid mysteries. Indigenous tradition, colonial documentation, and ongoing reports suggest something unusual exists in western Kenya.