Latest news with #fossa
BBC News
09-05-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Breeding hope as rare fossa arrives at Chester Zoo from US
A rare male fossa has arrived at Chester Zoo from America as part of an international breeding programme to protect the species from seven-year-old fossa, named Zaza, has travelled from an enclosure in San Diego after being genetically matched with the zoo's female fossa, to Madagascar, the long-tailed, cat-like mammal is a highly threatened species with fewer than 2,500 estimated to remain in the Zoo's head of mammals Mark Brayshaw said the move was "an important part of the international effort to ensure this wonderful and unique species is safeguarded long into the future". Conservationists in Chester have worked alongside international partners in Madagascar to protect habitats on the island for over 15 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 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 Jack Cunningham, a member of the Carnivore team at Chester Zoo, said the pair will be introduced 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". Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
09-05-2025
- Science
- BBC News
A rare fossa has arrived at Chester Zoo
Chester Zoo has just welcomed a rare unlike many of its additions, this animal hasn't been born at the zoo. Seven-year-old fossa Zaza was brought to the UK from San Diego Zoo in the US as part of a special international breeding programme. The mission is to boost fossa numbers to stop them from going extinct. Zaza has been matched with a female fossa at Chester Zoo called Shala and it's hoped the pair will go on to have pups. The animals tend to live alone, so the duo will stay apart most of the time, only coming together for breeding."Initially we plan to rotate the two of them separately around different parts of their habitat so they can smell each other," explained keeper Jack Cunningham. "They can see each other through a glass window and there's also a screen we can slide open between their dens which allows them to see each other, without being able to get to one another straight away."It's all part of our slow and gradual introduction process."Female fossa Shala, who arrived at Chester Zoo in 2018, successfully had a litter of pups with her previous mate, Isalo, who will be moving on from the zoo as part of the same breeding programme. Why are their worries about fossa numbers? The fossa is an animal which is native to existence is currently under threat, with fewer than 2,500 believed to still be in the wild. Deforestation has a big part to play in the fall in fossa numbers. "With the fossa listed as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and its wild habitats in Madagascar under threat from rapid development, Zaza's move to Chester Zoo is an important part of the international effort to ensure this wonderful and unique species is safeguarded long into the future," said Mark Brayshaw, who is the head of mammals at Chester Zoo. As well as drastic changes to their environment, fossas also face risks from dogs and cats introduced to Madagascar as they risk catching catch diseases from them. The fossa is the largest natural predator on hunt for prey such as lemurs, which makes up about half of their diet, as well as other species like birds, lizards and mice. Although the animals have retractable claws like cats, they are most closely related to mongooses.
