The earliest report of the creature known as the Buru, came from a single sentence in an article by an anthropologist, named Professor von Furer-Haimendorf.
| |
| Buru | |
|---|---|
| Sightings | From ancient times |
| Scientific Classification |
Domain: Eukarya Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Family: Varanidae Genus: Varanus Species: V.Himalayensis |
| Biinomial Name | Varanus Himalayensis |
| Average Height | Unknown |
| Average Weight | Unknown |
| Diet | Carnivorous (presumed) |
| Sapience Level | Non-Sapient (presumed) |
| Seen in | The Himalayas |
| Habitat | Valleys |
History and Discovery[]
During his visit to a valley in the Himalayas occupied by a people known as the Apatanis, he heard these natives tell tales about lizard-like creatures that used to live in a marsh at the bottom of the valley. He was the first westerner ever to learn of the Burus. Later, a man named Charles Stonor visited the valley and also heard about the creatures from the locals. They also told him their ancestors had trapped the Buru in five deep pools in the bottom of a lake, and that the creatures were stoned to death and the pools filled in. By the time Stonor had arrived the creatures were long extinct, although the exact date of their extinction is still unknown. The last Buru was seen by a girl who was retrieving water for her family. When her father was told of the incident, the entire village helped to fill the spring with stones.
Identity[]
These two Komodo Dragons might be close relatives of the Buru...
There is some controversy over the identity of this reptilian creature. Some say it is a crocodilian on the basis that Apatanis also use the term "buru" for crocodiles. Some North African crocodiles are known to live in caves so it is possible that if they were crocodiles that some went into caves after most were stoned to death. Bernard Heuvelmans, an important cryptozoologist, regarded the Buru as a monitor lizard since it shares many characteristics in common with living monitor lizards and fossils of the group have been found in India. Another famed cryptozoologist, Karl Shuker has taken on a very different opinion. His belief is that the Buru is a monstrous lungfish. This theory would explain why the Buru could survive hidden at the bottom of lakes during the dry season for periods of time.
The Buru might be related to other creatures, called "afa", in the marshes of the Tigris in Iraq, as well as the Meikong River Monster. It might also have a similar origin to a number of south and southeast Asian Dragons.