Auszug aus einem Artikel von AllAfrika vom 18. Juli 2006

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A team of six British zoologists, including a computer expert, photographer and an engineer, have ended a two-week long research on dragon (locally called ‚Ninkinanka‘) in The Gambia.

Speaking to the Daily Observer, Mr Chris Moiser, a Zoologist at the Parfell Animal Land (Zoo) Caracals, said they have also conducted research on a lizard, locally known as Armitage’s King, which was founded in 1922, by the then Governor of The Gambia, Governor Ch-Armitage (1920-1927).

According to Mr Moiser, the research had given them the opportunity to meet several people, especially in Kiang West, where "we met people whose relatives had once seen a dragon". He described various stories about the dragon as interesting, and then narrated: "At Kiang West, we were told that a ‚Ninkinanka‘ was seen about 10 to 15 years ago, with a range of 15 meters long.

"We talked to many people in the area who had grand parents, some of whom were fortunate to see ‚Ninkinanka‘, but they said they are afraid of it. It is still a belief that if a Black man sees a ‚Ninkinanka‘, he or she will die but cannot kill a White man", he said.

Chris Moiser opined that their research gathered facts, confirming the existence of ‚Ninkinanka‘ in The Gambia. "The animal is in The Gambia but we are yet to see one. We will do all our best to ensure that we get the full story of the ‚Ninkinanka‘. "Many people assured us that in areas, such as Foto Jallon Island, ‚Ninkinanka‘ could be found there. We will ensure that we are well-equipped next time we come around," he noted.

Other team members include Richard Freeman, a zoologist, Lisa Dasley, a photographer, Dr Chris Clark, an engineer, Seizi Marsh, a computer expert, and Olly Lewis, an ecologist.

Auszug aus einem Artikel des BBC vom  14. Juli 2006

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A team of UK dragon-hunters is on an expedition in The Gambia to track down a mysterious creature known locally as the "Ninki-nanka". Believed to live in swamps, the ninki-nanka appears in the folklore of many parts of West Africa. It is described as having a horse-like face, a long body with mirror-like scales and a crest of skin on its head. Team leader Richard Freeman told the BBC, evidence so far was sketchy as most people died soon after seeing it. Mr Freeman, a cryptozoologist from the UK-based Centre for Fortean Zoology, admitted that the ninki-nanka’s existence was "very far-fetched indeed".

Second-hand accounts varied wildly from it looking like a crocodile or a snake to having wings and spitting fire, he said. But he disputed a suggestion that the hunt was a waste of time and money. "We didn’t know any of this before we came. We have to look into everything to see if there is a possibility that there’s a real creature there," he told the BBC’s Focus on Africa programme. Cryptozoology is the search for animals whose existence is disputed or unsubstantiated, such as the Loch Ness monster.

Herbal potion

The team have interviewed one eyewitness so far – a park ranger from the Kiang West National Park who lived to tell the tale of his encounter three years ago. He described an immense animal 50 metres long by one metre wide that he watched for more than an hour before being taken ill. He put down his survival down to a herbal potion given to him by an Islamic holy man, Mr Freeman said.

Later, according to the expedition’s blog, after being shown pictures of various reptiles and mythical animals, the ranger said the creature’s face most resembled that of a Chinese dragon.

"We’ve heard very similar stories all over The Gambia but mostly not first hand eyewitnesses… there seems to be this thing when you see the ninki-nanka you will die usually within a few weeks," Mr Freeman said. The team are taking back a sample of what is claimed to be a ninki-nanka’s scale to be tested in the UK. But initially investigations suggestion this is a red herring, perhaps a bit of rotten celluloid film and "not biological". "We haven’t discounted the possibility that there is a flesh and blood ninki-nanka in the swamps of West Africa, it’s just at the moment the evidence is pointing to something more folkloric," he said.