Fosa

 

 

 

FOSA
Cryptoprocta ferox
Conservation status: VULNERABLE
Population: 2,635-8,626 (DECREASING)
Artist: Sadie, Corbridge Middle
Project: Where Did All the Animals Go? 2021

 

BIOLOGY

The fosa or fossa is the largest carnivore on the island of Madagascar and although cat-like is related to the mongoose family

Mainly solitary, the fosa is active both arboreally and on the ground. Its diet is known to include many animals in the forests it inhabits, including lemurs, rodents and reptiles. Lemurs are frequently caught in trees. Between two and four young are born; because infants remain with the mother for the first year, females only breed every other year. The maximum known age in captivity is more than 20 years. 

THREATS

The major threats to fosa are hunting for bushmeat, habitat loss and fragmentation of forests largely caused by the conversion of forested areas to agricultural land and pasture; selective logging degrades the habitat.  Information credit: IUCN Red List