Fossa intro and mating
- Thread starter atheris
- Start date
I know Africa alive bred Fossa a while ago, and they are currently building a new enclosure as we speak. So whether that means bringing in new stock to breed, as they female is quite old now!!
Firstly I am just and enthusiast and am not an expert or even a student of fossa behaviour but here is what I know anyway: Fossa introductions are amazingly awkward!!
Basically zoo's have two choices:
1) keep the fossa's side by side which decreases the likelihood of a fatal encounter but increases pacing leading to a poor display.
2) keep them away from each other which decreases the stereotypical behaviour but increases the chance of a fatal encounter.
In terms of the introduction process. I've seen newquay zoo allow the one fossa into the other's enclosure (whilst the other is locked away) for scenting etc to get used to each other again. I imagine the removal of visual barriers and allow them contact between mesh/bars during the introduction process.
I beleive keeping two adult male-female fossa's together all the time is extremely difficult but IMAGINE it could be done if they were brought up together from a very young age*
I love fossas!
*Please Dont anyone try this on my advice I am not an expert and I'd hate for anything bad to happen to anyone's fossas.
Basically zoo's have two choices:
1) keep the fossa's side by side which decreases the likelihood of a fatal encounter but increases pacing leading to a poor display.
2) keep them away from each other which decreases the stereotypical behaviour but increases the chance of a fatal encounter.
In terms of the introduction process. I've seen newquay zoo allow the one fossa into the other's enclosure (whilst the other is locked away) for scenting etc to get used to each other again. I imagine the removal of visual barriers and allow them contact between mesh/bars during the introduction process.
I beleive keeping two adult male-female fossa's together all the time is extremely difficult but IMAGINE it could be done if they were brought up together from a very young age*
I love fossas!
*Please Dont anyone try this on my advice I am not an expert and I'd hate for anything bad to happen to anyone's fossas.
Panthera Puss
Well-Known Member
Marwell appear to have a m/f pair that share an enclosure I think (from looking at the enclosure, and their stock record)?? I don't know anything about their history, though.
Some literature on this, tho' You probably know these ...
Hornsey, T. 1999. Breeding the Fossa at Suffolk Wildlife Park. International Zoo News 46: 407-417.
International Zoo News Vol. 46/7
Kopel, E. M. 1998. Fossa breeding at the San Antonio Zoo. Animal Keepers' Forum 25: 430-431.
Winkler, A. 1996. Husbandry and management guidelines for the Fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox). Duisburg Zoo, Duisburg, Germany,
Hornsey, T. 1999. Breeding the Fossa at Suffolk Wildlife Park. International Zoo News 46: 407-417.
International Zoo News Vol. 46/7
Kopel, E. M. 1998. Fossa breeding at the San Antonio Zoo. Animal Keepers' Forum 25: 430-431.
Winkler, A. 1996. Husbandry and management guidelines for the Fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox). Duisburg Zoo, Duisburg, Germany,