What is "ngoubou"

The Ngoubou is a purportedly surviving ceratopsian-like cryptid in the savanna region of Cameroon. It is said to have six horns, and fights elephants for land, despite its smaller size (about the size of an ox, according to locals).

In November 2000, William Gibbons did some preliminary research in Cameroon for a future Mokele-mbembe expedition. He was accompanied by David Wetzel. While visiting with a group of pygmies they were informed about an animal called Ngoubou. Although ngoubou is also the local word for rhinoceros, the pygmies asserted this was not a regular rhinoceros, as it had more than one horn (six horns on the frill in one account), and further stated that the father of one of the senior members of the community had killed one with a spear a number of years ago. The locals had noted a firm decline in the population of these animals lately, making them harder to find.

Gibbons identified the animal with a Styracosaurus, but these are currently only known to have inhabited North America. It might be related to the Emela-ntouka, but this animal is single-horned. Ceratopsian fossils are not found in Africa. Most have been found in Eastern Asia and North America, with one find in Australia.