‘Dragon-like water monster’ sparks sensation after being spotted lurking in a Chinese river
- The mysterious creature was allegedly discovered in a river in Yichang, China
- Footage shows it slowly moving away from the shore while a man watched on
- Many speculated that it could be a water boa, the largest snake in the world
- An expert claimed it was a large aquatic animal that had grown for many years
Footage of a mysterious creature moving around in a Chinese river has sparked sensation on the country’s social media.
Web users were so stunned by the unusual animal and described it as a ‘dragon-like water monster’ on Twitter-like Weibo.
Other commentators suggested it could be a water boa.
Viral footage in China shows a mysterious creature slowly moving in a river. Web users were so stunned by the unusual animal and described it as a ‘dragon-like water monster’ on Weibo
It is said that the 14-second clip was filmed in Yichang in central China’s Hubei Province.
The creature allegedly appeared in a river near Three Gorges Dam, a huge hydroelectric gravity dam and the world’s largest power station.
The clip shows a man observing the slithering animal as it slowly moved away from the embankment.
Chinese web users have been debating what the creature could be.
Many speculated it was likely a water boa, also known as the green anaconda.
The green anaconda (pictured) is the largest snake in the world and can grow to 29 feet long
Originating in South America, the green anaconda is the largest snake in the world and can be found in swamps, marshes and slow-moving streams, according to National Geographic.
The mighty reptile can grow to more than 29 feet in length, 550 pounds in weight and 12 inches in diameter.
Others thought it looked more like a huge pipe or a plastic fence.
One viewer said: ‘I think it looks like an alligator.’
The creature allegedly appeared in a river near Three Gorges Dam (pictured) in Yichang
Three Gorges Dam is a huge hydroelectric gravity dam and the world’s largest power station
A Chinese fishery expert in Hubei told MailOnline the creature was likely a large aquatic animal that had grown for many years.
The expert, who wishes to remain anonymous, said it did not appear to be a sturgeon or finless porpoise like some people believed.
She said it could be a water boa, but adding it would be hard to tell the species for certain by watching the video.
The expert also cautioned that the footage could have been digitally modified.