Waheela
Encyclopedia
The Waheela is a wolf-like
cryptid
reported from Nahanni Valley
in the Northwest Territories
of Canada
. It has also been reported in areas of Michigan and Alaska. Cryptozoologist
Ivan Sanderson thought that the waheela might represent a relict
population of Amphicyonid
s, prehistoric
bear-dogs (but which he incorrectly referred to as dire wolves
, which were true, but not what the waheela is said to be.).
The waheela is similar to the Shunka Warakin
, but inhabits a far more northern habitat. It is also similar to Amarok
, a giant wolf from Inuit
mythology. It is reported to travel in groups of two or three, and not in large packs as modern wolves do.
Gray Wolf
The gray wolf , also known as the wolf, is the largest extant wild member of the Canidae family...
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...
reported from Nahanni Valley
Nahanni National Park Reserve
Nahanni National Park Reserve in the Dehcho Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada, approximately west of Yellowknife, protects a portion of the Mackenzie Mountains Natural Region. The centrepiece of the park is the South Nahanni River. Four noteworthy canyons reaching in depth, called...
in the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It has also been reported in areas of Michigan and Alaska. Cryptozoologist
Cryptozoology
Cryptozoology refers to the search for animals whose existence has not been proven...
Ivan Sanderson thought that the waheela might represent a relict
Relict
A relict is a surviving remnant of a natural phenomenon.* In biology a relict is an organism that at an earlier time was abundant in a large area but now occurs at only one or a few small areas....
population of Amphicyonid
Bear dog
Amphicyonidae is an extinct family of large terrestrial carnivores belonging to the suborder Caniformia and which inhabited North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa from the Middle Eocene subepoch to the Pleistocene epoch 46.2—1.8 Mya, existing for approximately .-Taxonomy:Amphicyonidae was named...
s, prehistoric
Prehistoric mammal
Prehistoric mammals are groups of mammals that lived before humans developed writing. 164 million years ago, in the Jurassic period, Castorocauda lutrasimilis, a mammal-like animal weighing about 500 grams , had a full mammalian pelt, with guard hairs and under fur, webbed feet, and scales on the...
bear-dogs (but which he incorrectly referred to as dire wolves
Dire Wolf
The Dire Wolf, Canis dirus, is an extinct carnivorous mammal of the genus Canis, and was most common in North America and South America from the Irvingtonian stage to the Rancholabrean stage of the Pleistocene epoch living 1.80 Ma – 10,000 years ago, existing for approximately .- Relationships...
, which were true, but not what the waheela is said to be.).
The waheela is similar to the Shunka Warakin
Shunka Warakin
The Shunka Warakin is an animal mentioned in American folklore that is said to resemble a wolf, a hyena, or both. According to cryptozoologist Loren Coleman, shunka warak'in is an Ioway term meaning "carries off dogs." Coleman suggested that the creature was some animal unknown to modern...
, but inhabits a far more northern habitat. It is also similar to Amarok
Amarok (wolf)
Amarok is the name of a gigantic wolf in Inuit mythology.It is said to hunt down and devour anyone foolish enough to hunt alone at night. Unlike real wolves who hunt in packs, Amarok hunts alone. It is sometimes considered equivalent to the waheela of cryptozoology...
, a giant wolf from Inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
mythology. It is reported to travel in groups of two or three, and not in large packs as modern wolves do.