Trunko: The South African Sea Monster

On October 25, 1924, witnesses at Margate Beach, South Africa, observed an extraordinary sight: a large, white, furry creature fighting two orcas in the ocean. The creature was eventually washed ashore, where it was photographed before disappearing.

The Battle

Witnesses reported watching the strange creature fighting two orcas for over three hours. The white creature leaped from the water, striking at the orcas with what appeared to be a trunk-like appendage.

The Carcass

After the battle, a carcass washed ashore. It was described as white, covered in fur, with no apparent head but a trunk-like extension. It was about 47 feet long and 10 feet wide. It remained on the beach for 10 days before washing back out to sea.

The Evidence

Photographs of the carcass exist, showing a pale, shapeless mass. The creature was not scientifically examined before it disappeared. No sample was taken.

The Explanation

Modern analysis suggests Trunko was likely a decomposing whale carcass, with the “fur” being exposed connective tissue. But this doesn’t explain the witnessed battle or the trunk.

Assessment

Trunko remains one of cryptozoology’s most tantalizing cases: witnesses saw something fight orcas, and a carcass was photographed. Whether an unknown creature or misidentified whale, something strange came ashore at Margate.