ON THE TRAIL FOSAS STUDYING SECRETIVE ANIMALS IN THE WILD by Joyce Markovics
trapped Conservation biologist Luke Dollar held his finger up to his lips signaling everyone on his team to be quiet It was a May morning in a forest in Madagascar Huge baobab BEY-oh-bab trees rose overhead like giant umbrellas You follow behind whispered Luke The team tiptoed being careful not to make any loud noises Up ahead was a wire cage about the size of a big suitcase Huddled in the back of the cage was a long brown animal with large amber-colored eyes LOOK CLOSER Madagascar is an island country off the coast of Africa It’s the fourth-largest island on Earth Fosas live only in Madagascar They’re one of the largest native carnivores found there 4
The silence was broken by a deep growl and snort coming from within the cage Then suddenly there was a burst of movement The catlike animal arched its back and thrashed around the cage trying to escape Luke had captured a fosa FOO-sah one of the most secretive and deadly predators in the world Although they look like small panthers fosas are members of their own family of carnivores 5
