Trunko
A massive white creature was seen battling two whales off South Africa. It had an elephant trunk and white fur. Photos exist. Scientists are still unsure what it was.
On October 25, 1924, witnesses at Margate Beach, South Africa watched an extraordinary battle between two whales and a massive, unknown white creature. The animal washed ashore days later. Photos were taken. Its identity remains debated.
The Battle
According to documented accounts:
Witnesses including farmers and beachgoers reported:
- Two whales attacking a large white creature
- The creature using a “trunk-like” appendage
- A three-hour battle in the surf
- The creature appearing to be covered in white fur
- It was enormous—estimated 47 feet long
The Carcass
The creature washed ashore days later on Margate Beach:
- Massive, whale-like body
- Covered in white “fur” (8 inches long)
- A trunk-like appendage
- A lobster-like tail
- No blood was observed
- No head could be identified
The carcass lay on the beach for 10 days before washing back out to sea. No scientific examination was conducted.
The Photos
Remarkably, photographs were taken:
- The images show a large, pale mass on the beach
- The shape is ambiguous but clearly large
- Some details match witness descriptions
- The photos were rediscovered in 2010
The Name
The creature was dubbed “Trunko” by cryptozoologist Karl Shuker in 1996, based on the reported trunk.
Theories
Whale Carcass: The most likely explanation. A decomposing whale can:
- Turn white
- Develop “fur” (exposed collagen fibers called “whale blubber fur”)
- Appear to have strange appendages as it decomposes
- Look quite unlike a normal whale
Unknown Species: Some cryptozoologists suggest an unknown marine mammal, possibly a surviving prehistoric creature.
Globster: A general term for unidentified organic masses that wash ashore. Many turn out to be decomposing whales.
The Battle Problem
If Trunko was a dead whale carcass, what did witnesses see fighting whales?
- Whales sometimes push carcasses
- This behavior might look like combat
- Or the witnesses saw something genuinely strange
Significance
Trunko is significant because:
- Multiple witnesses reported a live, fighting creature
- Photographic evidence exists
- The carcass was observed for days
- It demonstrates how decomposition creates “monsters”
Legacy
Trunko remains a minor but persistent cryptozoological mystery:
- Featured in cryptid literature
- The photos continue to be analyzed
- It illustrates the challenges of identifying strange marine remains
- The witness accounts of a live, battling creature are harder to explain