Fossa - Five Sisters Zoo

Endemic to Madagascar, meaning this is the only place in the world it is found, the Fossa is the top land predator. They have a cat-like head, small, rounded ears and a sleek body that is bronze-brown in colour with vivid brown eyes. They are both an arboreal, or tree-dwelling, and terrestrial species, able to hunt for prey in both spaces.

Facts

Diet: Carnivore; lemurs, tenrecs, birds and reptiles.

Weight: 5.5-8.6kg

Length: 1.5 metres including their tail.

Habitat: Madagascar; forested areas with significant tree cover and higher levels of humidity preferred.

Life Span: Approximately 15 years

Adapted to survive

  • Specialized joints in their hind legs enable them to climb up or down trees headfirst
  • Based on need, they can walk plantigrade (on the soles of their feet) and digitigrade (on their toes) to navigate both the trees and the ground.

Threats

  • Invasive species
  • Habitat loss and fragmentation
  • Human-wildlife conflict

IUCN Conservation Status

Vulnerable

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