Beastly Theories (Ep. 84) Drums Along the Congo - with Rory Nugent

Rory Nugent is a writer and an explorer. His work covers war and dying traditions/cultures as well as cryptozoology. His articles have appeared in newspapers and magazines around the world and his three books: Down at the Docks; Drums along the Congo; and, The Search for the Pink-Headed Duck; are internationally acclaimed and respected.

Originally a seaman, he was the youngest entrant in the 1976 observer single-handed trans-Atlantic race, and went on to make 4 solo ocean crossings; his fifth in 1980, ended in shipwreck and five days adrift at sea.

Seeking a somewhat quieter life Rory took to field research and set out to document some of nature's wonders while they still existed. He mounted a one-man expedition in search of India’s missing jewel, the pink-headed duck, and afterward, set off alone to find a living dinosaur (mokele-mbembe) that is said to inhabit the swampy forests of the Likouala Basin in the Congo; which is where we pick up the story... 

We discover what initially attracted him to the legend of Mokele-Mbembe and how he prepared for a one-man expedition into uncharted territory... The contrast between his expectations of the region and what he experienced on location; the endemic low-level corruption and poor administration that hindered his expedition and whether this was simply an in-built feature of the local culture or a form of 'special treatment' reserved for outsiders!

Nugent describes his difficulty in finding first-hand witnesses of this intrepid beast, as well as the generalized knowledge of Mokele Mbembe tourism that exists within the general population, and the obvious dollar value such exploration represents to this largely rural population.

Later, we discuss the socialist government that was in place at the time of his visit in the 1980s, and his being assigned a guide by local officials (who suspected that he might have been an American spy or an oil contractor trying to identify new energy resources) to 'watch over him.' 

Rory weighs in on the identity of Mokele-Mbembe and whether the dinosaurian interpretation of this legend is a hopeful attempt by Young Earth Creationists and other groups to find evidence that contradicts the scientific consensus regarding evolution.

He also sceptically reviews his rather startling sighting (including a photo he captured) of a periscope-like object cutting through the surface of Lake Tele. 

Finally, we finish with the opening chapter of his book: Drums Along the Congo... which depicts him enduring a very descriptive and humiliating, preparatory 'cleansing ritual' performed by a local witch doctor, viewed by curious onlookers, in some obscure village!

You can find Rory's excellent books here: 

Drums Along The Congo: On The Trail Of Mokele-Mbembe, the Last Living Dinosaur - https://amzn.eu/d/25SCe7B

The Search for the Pink-Headed Duck - https://amzn.eu/d/14FOxwZ

Or go to: https://www.rorynugent.com/

 

Check out my Beastly Endeavours:

https://linktr.ee/beastsof
 
Read my Beastly Books:
 
BEASTS OF BRITAIN 
https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Beasts-of-Britain-Audiobook/B09PG8CDS2
 
BEASTS OF THE WORLD (VOL.1) Hairy Humanoids
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09R6FMT4Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_YCXC693KWJR0EDTXXRMQ