The male came to the Prague Zoo from the Paris Zoo, the female from Germany. Photo by Oliver Le Que, Prague Zoo
In the Animal and Reptile Pavilion at the Prague Zoo, a Fossa couple are newly housed. These fascinating beasts live in the wild only in Madagascar, Africa. Visitors to the Prague Zoo can now observe the male and female of the largest beast of this tropical island. They should form a breeding pair in the future.
Our new beasts are perfectly adapted to life in trees, thanks to their incredible mobility and flexibility they can climb upside down. They are solitary animals that gather in traditional trees during mating season, where they meet with other members of their species every year. “The moats are now curiously exploring the interior display. When they get used to their new home, the keepers will also make the outdoor enclosure available to them,” says Pavel Brandl, curator of mammals at the Prague Zoo.
Fosy can climb upside down, and even run in tree branches in spirals. Photo by Oliver Le Que, Prague Zoo
Both animals, which recently arrived at the Prague Zoo from abroad, were born only last year. “According to the recommendation of the coordinator of the European Breeding Program (EEP), we will combine males and females only after reaching sexual maturity. That way, we could expect cubs in probably two years,” adds Pavel Brandl.
Island species are among the most endangered in the world. The endemic fossa is listed as a vulnerable species by the IUCN Red List, its population having declined by 30% over the past three generations due to habitat loss and persecution. In the wild, they are often considered a pest by indigenous people. In addition to lemurs, which are most often on their diet, they also sometimes hunt chickens or other poultry. The extensive forests where these exceptional beasts live are also disappearing.