Security guard Víctor Fontora spotted something unusual while working the night shift at an Uruguayan blueberry plantation and packing center in August. Fortunately, he had the presence of mind to record it, capturing one of only two conclusive video images of a maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) ever recorded in the wild in Uruguay. Fontora had heard what he thought was a deer moving near one of the plant’s buildings in the northeastern department of Salto, but the animal he filmed through a window with his cellphone resembled a fox with absurdly long legs. He had never seen such a creature. The maned wolf, called aguará guazú in Spanish, walked up to an electronic gate as if it wanted to reach a road leading away from the facility. But Fontora’s attempt to open the gate electronically spooked the animal, which raced back onto the company grounds and was not seen again... [Log in to read more]