Breeding hope as rare fossa arrives at Chester Zoo from US
Conservationists in Chester have worked alongside international partners in Madagascar to protect habitats on the island for over 15 years.Female Shala, who arrived in Chester in 2018, previously had a litter of pups with former mate Isalo and has also been part of a project to monitor mating calls.Her mating call was recorded and analysed to help researchers in the rainforests of Madagascar to identify when female fossas are looking for mates in the wild and identify the best environments for breeding.
Females only come into season once a year for a two-week period when the usually-silent species become very vocal.Keeper Jack Cunningham, a member of the Carnivore team at Chester Zoo, said the pair will be introduced slowly.Lucy Pearson, a keeper at San Diego Zoo, said Zaza was a "very energetic and well-tempered" fossa and "the bravest of the four pups in his litter due to his curious personality".Fellow keeper Candice Dymek said while it was "hard to say goodbye" to Zaza the zoo was "excited at the potential for him to sire pups and grow the European fossa population, and to be a part of such a large collaboration that will continue to further conservation efforts in Madagascar".
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