On April 12, Cowan picked up his duikers and drove them to Penn State. Now the duikers step about their cages, white tails flicking, pointed muzzles sniffing the air. Cowan reaches into a cage. His big fingers wiggle. A duiker walks over, and he rubs the fur at the base of its horns.
Sightseers can watch the duikers through a window.
Scientists and handlers wade through footpaths to enter, to keep from infecting the animals with North American pathogens. From this breeding nucleus, Cowan hopes to rear duikers for forage digestion trials. He may not run any of the trials himself, since he plans to retire within the year. He had intended to leave at the end of March, but there is still much to do. Cowan speaks softly to the duiker.