Fossa (folklore)

Fossas are a cat-like species related to the mongoose that are the top predators of the island of Madagascar. Many people in Madagascar fear this predator and often tell myths about how it kills people and steals chickens.

Superstition
In Malagasy folklore, the fossa seems to occupy a similar niche to the wolves in European folklore. It is considered a greedy, aggressive and wicked animal that will steal piglets and chickens. It is also said to steal small children who wander too far into the forests. It is also considered taboo to eat the fossa, as they are reptured to rob graves and eat the bodies of ancestors. Nevertheless, fossas are sometimes taken as bushmeat. According to the local legends, they can also kill people with its farts and turn them into zombies by using its poisonous lick before disembowling them. Like the aye-aye, the fossa is often feared by many natives and is therefore depicted as an evil creature that steals others foods and kidnaps children while sneaking into their homes at night. Malagasy folklore often exaggerates the ferocity of the Fossa, claiming that it will prey upon cattle, or even humans.

Reality
As a result of the Natives' fears regarding these cat-like predators, they are killed whenever they prey on chickens and their habitat is being destroyed by humans for farmings. This led to the species' endangerment and conservation efforts to protect them.