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The Steller's sea bear, called "Kot" by the Russians, is an alleged Japanese marine bear described by William Dampier, and later explorer Georg Wilhelm Steller, in his book De Bestiis Marinis (Beasts of the Sea). Steller himself never saw the bear, but was told about it by the locals.

It is one of the more obscure examples of cryptozoology. Steller himself was skeptical of the bears existance, saying "I myself do not know how far to believe this report, for no one has ever seen one, either slain or cast up dead upon the shore."

Steller also referred to a type of seal or sea lion as a 'sea-bear'- De Bestiis Marinis describes both the seal and the actual bear in the same chapter.

Description
It was described by the locals as being a large white-furred bear, very aggressive on both the land and in water. Its growl was said to have sounded like that of a polar bear. In fact, the animals description overall is almost identical to that of the polar bear, which was noted by cryptozoologist Karl Shuker. Steller also noted that the bears weighed about 800 pounds.

Accounts
According to the locals, the sea bear was not often seen in the Kuril Islands, but was far more numerous closer to Japan.

The locals claimed that, in 1736, a sea bear had overturned a fishing boat and killed two men, "ripping them to shreds". They stated that, when they heard the bears 'voice', most of the locals fled, leaving behind the fish, otters and even seals they had caught.