1) Crib admitted he had never seen the “beavers” … yet he called them beavers? Why could they not have been birds? Or something else?

2) NO ONE else reported dams of ANY kind – before or since – ANYWHERE in New Zealand

3) A beaver – “native” or “displaced” – is probably the MOST unlikely explanation for the waitoreke. If New Zealand had damn-building beavers, at ANY time, we’d know about it!

I suggest any serious researcher ignore Crib’s report. He got his name in the history books … lets not encourage any other fantasists!

If such dams could be found, then perhaps other traces such as scats might be discovered.

Where would you find such dams? Under mud slides? I reckon needles in haystacks might be easier, but just another idea to keep in mind for those willing to search.

ie.
1) The reference to the kaureke animal laying eggs.

2) The opportunity for a monotreme to have reached New Zealand “dryshod” from Gondwana and set up shop.

Firstly, the kaureke animal (as reported by Maopo in the 19th century) is NOT the same as the waitoreke animal reported by others at the time. The “nearly white” and “egg-laying” kaureke that lived in the Arowhenua bush is almost certainly a Tuatara (reptile). Remember, Tamihana Te Rauparaha gave a FAR more detailed (and mammal-like) description of the waitoreke animal, and STRONGLY denied it laid eggs.

Secondly, although monotremes were certainly on the New Zealand land mass around the 80MYA “cast off” (based on Australian fossil discoveries) there has been NO evidence found to suggest the animals were ever here. So, to believe a relatively small population of monotremes died off millions of years ago, leaving very few/no traces is ONE thing … but to believe that a population existed (without speciation?) at least until the late 19th century, without leaving ANY traces … surely that is too big a leap of faith?

Yes, paleontologist HAVE searched for native land mammal remains … and found NONE.

What’s more, there are more mammal (rodent, mustelid) traps and infra-red research cameras in the South Island than there are kiwi! And human encroachment continues every year. So, rest assured, we ARE ready to make a discovery IF a platypus-like animal is out there.

But, in all honesty, you don’t believe the waitoreke is going to turn out to be a monotreme that:
a) lost it’s bill – like no other known monotreme,
b) never flourished – despite living in a predator-less environment,
c) remained undiscovered – in fossil or flesh – in New Zeland despite all the attempts to find it?

Do you??

However, there have also been many sightings of an otter like animal and I am of the opinion that the creature responsible may well have been an Oriental small-clawed otter (Amblonyx cinereus) or otter of similar species.

There have been many anomalous Tamil artifacts found in New Zealand’s early history. These otter may have been aboard and stranded here. If they did manage to form a breeding colony that would explain many sightings, generally on the South- Eastern Coast of the South Island.

However if a colony did once exist sadly I feel it is all but extinct or on the verge of.

Modern sightings are rare and after a search was carried out, I was told many of the areas this animal was said to inhabit are now very urbanised.

Though there are still very very remote areas not frequented by man, these would be the only refuge for such an animal if it still existed.

Tony Lucas
New Zealand Cryptozoologist

It’d be so neat to be in a part of the world where things like this happen. I’d love to check a trap somewhere sometime and have something no one’s ever seen before.

It would make a great project to query the nation’s museums to see if there are any bone specimens which have been collected (preferably early post-colonization), which have not yet been described.