The UK’s only fossa pups born at Chester Zoo
We’re thrilled to be celebrating the birth of these four rare pups, born to parents Shala and Zaza.
They’re the first of their kind to be born in the UK this year, and one of only three litters born in all zoos across Europe in 2025.
Our carnivore experts are hailing the arrival of the two male and two female pups as vital new additions to an international breeding programme which is working to ensure the continued survival of the species.
The birth of the pups follows the arrival of seven-year-old male Zaza from San Diego Zoo in the USA in May, after he was identified as an excellent genetic match for our resident female, Shala.
The fossa, a slender, cat-like mammal and the largest natural predator in Madagascar, is a highly threatened species with fewer than 2,500 estimated to remain in the wild, largely due to mass deforestation.
These births are incredibly special. Not only are they the only pups in the UK and vital additions to a European breeding programme, but they also give us a unique opportunity to learn more about their biology, behaviours and social dynamics. That insight helps us build a more complete picture of the species, which is then used to inform conservation efforts in the wild.
Mark Brayshaw, our Head of Mammals
Fossa pups are born blind, weighing around 100g – about the same as a small apple – and spend several months in their den before emerging.
Born on 8 July 2025, our 12-week-old pups are now venturing out for the first time, to the delight of both keepers and visitors.
A recent vet check revealed two males and two females, all healthy. Our team will soon start drawing up a list of names as their personalities emerge – a couple are bold and brave, while the others are more cautious and like to stay close to mum.
The fossa is listed as Vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Here at Chester Zoo, our conservationists have been working alongside partners in Madagascar for more than 15 years to protect habitats and restore forests.
For nearly two decades, we’ve been working with our Malagasy partners and local communities to protect Madagascar’s incredible wildlife. In 2015, we collaborated with the in-country NGO Madagasikara Voakajy and the Malagasy government to establish the Mangabe New Protected Area - a 27,000-hectare area of untouched forest that now safeguards thousands of species for the future, including the fossa.
