Ningen is a mythical whale-like cryptid

Cryptid

In cryptozoology and sometimes in cryptobotany, a cryptid is a creature or plant whose existence has been suggested but is unrecognized by scientific consensus and often regarded as highly unlikely. Famous examples include the Yeti in the Himalayas and the Loch Ness Monster in...

. The word "ningen" translated from Japanese means "human" and the creatures are described as large, blubbery, whale-like creatures that share some of the same anatomical features humans do.

Origin

The creature was first mentioned in a series of posts on the Japanese 2channel

2channel

is a Japanese textboard. In 2007 there were 2.5 million posts made every day. Launched in 1999, it has gained significant influence in Japanese society, comparable to that of traditional mass media such as television, radio, and magazines. As of 2008, the site generates revenue upwards of ¥100...

 online forums, alleging to be the experiences of a person employed on a government whale research vessel. The posts attracted the attention of readers outwith the 2channel community and the November 2007 edition of Japan's Mu magazine, a publication devoted to the supernatural, featured an article about the creatures. The piece in Mu speculated about the possibility that unknown creatures could inhabit the southern oceans, and included a Google Maps screenshot showing what was supposed to resemble like a Ningen in the South Atlantic near Namibia

Namibia

Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...

. While several artists' renderings, blurred photographs and grainy videos have surfaced, the existence of this creature has not been verified.

Description

A face is present in nearly all descriptions or depictions of Ningen, and in some reports arms and hands are present as well. They are claimed to be large in size, allegedly 20–30 meters in length. Their skin is supposed to have very little pigmentation as it is often shown as pale or nearly white.

External links

• Alleged Ningen footage at YouTube