In Hindu Mythology the Yali, also known as Vyala in Sanskrit, the ancient language of India and Pakistan, is often found sculpted into pillars of Hindu temples. It is depicted as having a graceful cat like body with the head of a lion and the ivory tusks and trunk of an elephant. The Yali is said to be stronger than both the lion and the elephant and is thought to symbolize man’s struggle over the elemental forces of nature. Generally sculptures of the Yali are positioned on both sides of an entrance way to temples and are more recently found on the entrance ways of residential and commercial complexes in India.

Some investigators believe that the Yali may well have stalked the jungles of ancient India, regarded by the local population as a jungle predator as ferocious as the indigenous bangle tiger, however there is no solid proof to support this theory. The majority of researchers today feel that the Yali is nothing more than another fantastic concoction fitting nicely into the pantheon of hybrid animal found in Hindu Mythology.

The Evidence
There is currently no physical evidence to suggest that the Yali is, or ever was, an actually animal.

The Sightings
No documented sightings of the Yali could be found at this time.

The Stats – (Where applicable)

• Classification: Hybrid / Other
• Size: Roughly that of a large lion
• Weight: Unknown
• Diet: Carnivorous
• Location: India
• Movement: Four legged walking
• Environment: Unknown