I think you’re both being too generous with your praise of my photo, but thanks for the comments; much appreciated.
Fossas are a particular favourite of mine. I was very excited when I saw the species for the first time; this was at Duisburg Zoo in 1980. In those days there were none in the UK; indeed, for many years, I only ever saw fossa on visits to Duisburg.
Fossas are a particular favourite of mine. I was very excited when I saw the species for the first time; this was at Duisburg Zoo in 1980. In those days there were none in the UK; indeed, for many years, I only ever saw fossa on visits to Duisburg.
I went to Duisburg in the 80s and saw my first fossas, along with first koalas, wombats, belugas, Commerson's dolphins, red river hogs (which were extremely rare in captivity) and doubtless others that escape me now.
Fossa's and viveridae I think are my zoo favourites, they're just so quirky and generally just the coolest group of species I know*. Hence the name 'foz'
*apologies for sounding so juvenile 'my favourite species is...' sort of thing.
I went to Duisburg in the 80s and saw my first fossas, along with first koalas, wombats, belugas, Commerson's dolphins, red river hogs (which were extremely rare in captivity) and doubtless others that escape me now.
Digressing from fossas, but I agree that Duisburg had a great collection...
On my first visit to Duisburg, 31 years ago, in addition to fossas, I saw giant otters, beluga, Commerson’s dolphin and Amazon river dolphin all for the first time; it is still the only place where I’ve ever seen the latter.
As you mentioned, red river hogs were very rare in zoos then; I had seen the species previously, but I especially liked the fact that those in Duisburg were in an adjacent exhibit to bush pigs, so it was possible to compare the two closely related forms.
Despite the great collection at Duisburg 30 or so years ago, the appalling conditions for many of the rare species (like the giant otters, river dolphins, fossa etc.) should also not be forgotten - even though a few rare breeding successes occurred. In addition to the species mentioned I particularly remember the Tasmanian devils, hog badger and giant salamander, and there was lots more.
There are none in any zoos here in Arizona or New Mexico, but I have seen them within the last year at three zoos in Texas (Houston, Dallas, San Antonio). Maybe they are housed regionally in the U.S. or maybe it is just a coincidence.
