"Krao", the "missing link" : a living proof of Darwin's theory of the descent of man : special lectures, 2.30, 5.30 & 9.30... : all should see her : [jungle illustration].

item

Galleries and Reading Room

Shop

Library

Café

Our galleries are quietest on weekdays and weekend mornings. At busy times, particularly on Saturdays, you may need to queue for our temporary exhibitions.

We’re undertaking some research with website visitors to learn more about how people find access-related information provided by museums. This survey shouldn't take longer than 10 minutes to complete. Thank you for your time!

Help us organize our website content.

<p>Handbill advertising Krao, a young woman with an unusually hairy body (though not as hairy as the poster illustrations suggested) who was found in the jungles of Laos in 1885 by Carl Bock. She was exhibited as the missing link, cashing in on the publicity of Charles Darwin's evolutionary theory and the victorian / edwardian fascination with freak shows. She appeared at the Royal Aquarium exhibition hall, Westminster on March 25th 1887. The leaflet shows Krao standing on a rock against rich, jungle foliage, wearing a loin cloth, her arms raised to chest level, around a plant.</p>

Wellcome uses cookies.

"Krao", the "missing link" : a living proof of Darwin's theory of the descent of man : special lectures, 2.30, 5.30 & 9.30... : all should see her : [jungle illustration].

Licence and re-use