Zaza brings new hope for endangered fossas
A genetic match that gives conservationists fresh hope to the preservation of this endangered species.
A rare Malagasy fossa has arrived at Chester Zoo, marking an exciting new chapter in our mission to protect this endangered species.
Zaza, a seven-year-old male, has travelled all the way from San Diego Zoo in the USA, and he’s now settling in with our resident female, Shala, as part of an important international breeding programme.
This partnership is hoped to bring new life to the fossa population, contributing to the survival of these remarkable predators. Fossas are native to Madagascar, with fewer than 2,500 left in the wild, and their habitats are threatened by deforestation.
“Zaza is part of a global conservation breeding programme. 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. We’re very pleased to see him arrive.”
Mark Brayshaw, Head of Mammals at Chester Zoo
The fossa is the largest natural predator in Madagascar, known for hunting lemurs, birds, lizards, and small mammals. While they have retractable claws like cats, fossas are actually more closely related to mongooses. At Chester Zoo, Zaza and Shala are carefully introduced to one another to ensure a natural, healthy relationship—just as they would in the wild.
Initially we plan to rotate the two of them separately around different parts of their habitat so they can smell each other. 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.
Jack Cunningham, Carnivore Keeper at Chester Zoo
The sliding screen might make this seem a bit like an episode of Blind Date, but the fossas must be properly introduced at precisely the right moment.
Zaza’s arrival follows in the footsteps of Shala, who has already contributed to the fossa’s survival by raising a litter of pups with her previous mate, Isalo. This litter has already found homes in the UK and abroad, while Shala’s scientific contributions have helped researchers in Madagascar track and understand the fossa’s mating calls and habitat needs.
As well as contributing to the continued survival of the species, Shala has also contributed to scientific knowledge of the species.
Her mating call has been recorded and analysed to create a spectrogram, which is a visual representation of sound. This allows researchers in the rainforests of Madagascar to identify when female fossas are looking for mates in the wild, This helps track species numbers and identify which environments are best for them.
Zaza is a very energetic and well-tempered fossa and can be very vocal when excited. He was the bravest of the four pups in his litter due to his curious personality.
Lucy Pearson, Zaza's keeper at San Diego Zoo
Zaza and Shala’s potential to produce pups plays a crucial role in preserving the species, and Chester Zoo is proud to be a part of the global effort to protect Madagascar’s unique wildlife. For over 15 years, our conservationists have worked alongside local partners in Madagascar to protect endangered species and restore threatened habitats.
