The Problem

The problem with the tsingy is that it is too dangerous to investigate. Few scientists are able to produce studies and discover new species because of how the limestone has been shaped. From these few scientists, we have learned about Decken's sifaka, a white-furred lemur, shown in the picture on the left. The tsingy is known to be a bestiary of giant snails, fist-sized crickets, emerald green snakes, and red rats. They have also found the lemur-eating fossa, a wiry, thin-coated mammal with retractable claws like a large cat. These species have been living in a safe zone according to biologists. A safe zone is where plants and animals evolve differently than their relatives because of the isolation.
This place would be so fascinating to biologists if it wasn't so dangerous to visit. There are underground canyons and caves, but the passages between the grikes are sometimes smaller than a human can fit through. The day when scientists can go in every little crevice and discover the new plants and animals living there in the tsingy without harm from the limestone spikes will be a happy one indeed.