Introduction

1000 years ago zoologists from America were on a secret mission from the President to bring a rare animal across the Pacific Ocean. Unfortunately, during their journey they got caught in a storm and were shipwrecked on an uncharted island. Luckily, the zoologists were rescued by the US Military, but the animal escaped and they were unable to retrieve it before leaving the island.

It is now the year 3004 and you have been ordered by the current President of the United States to return to the island and bring back the rare animal. However, since 1000 years have passed, the animal has probably made adaptations to its environment and may not look the same as it did when it was lost. You have been given the following information about the conditions of the island:

The island is partly mountainous and partly flat. The flat portion of the island has a moderate climate, meaning it never gets very hot or very cold. The mountainous part can get very cold and snowy up in the peaks. On this island, it rains for part of the year and the water forms pools and lakes. These lakes dry up towards the end of the year, and then the island is very dry. Vegetation includes tall trees with high leaves and fruit, and a smaller plant that bears nuts. However, these nuts are inside hard shells that need to be removed before the nut can be eaten. Animals besides the mystery animal that live on this island include rats and mice which live underground, insects, birds that nest in the tall trees, slow moving mammals which also live in the trees and a species of carnivorous nocturnal wolf.