The Deadliest Animal in the World

I Peter 5:8
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

You have probably never heard of the last animal you would ever want to meet undefended. This animal, found in the wild only in Madagascar, is called the fossa (pronounced FOO-sa). A typical specimen weighs only about 14 pounds. Its body is about 28 inches long, but its tail is another 28 inches long.

The fossa looks something like a small mountain lion and was originally classified as a member of the cat family. But it also has features and behaviors, including its tenacity in fighting, more similar to the mongoose. This led scientists to reclassify the fossa as a member of the mongoose family. These ferocious creatures live in the forests of Madagascar. Despite its small size, it is said to eat anything with a heartbeat. This powerful creature is known by science to bring down even wild pigs much larger than itself. The local people of Madagascar say it can even bring down oxen. Pound for pound, it is recognized as the deadliest animal in the world. Scientists have also learned that an even larger version of the fossa possibly existed 1,500 years ago when Madagascar was first settled. This fossa weighed as much as 200 pounds and had a body 6 feet long, not counting the tail. It could have brought down any creature it wanted.

While the fossa may be considered the personification of evil, the Bible tells us that the devil is behind all evil and is much more dangerous than any fossa. So we can thank God that His Son, Jesus Christ, has won for us the victory over sin, death and the devil.

Prayer:
Lord, I thank You. You have given me Your victory over the devil. Amen.

Notes:
Discover, 4/00, pp. 68 75, “The deadliest Carnivore.” Photo: Fossa. Courtesy of Chad Teer. (CC BY 2.0)