Overview
- Two male and two female pups were confirmed in a recent veterinary check after leaving the den and taking their first steps at around 12 weeks old.
- The litter was born on 8 July 2025 to Shala and Zaza, a seven-year-old male transferred from San Diego Zoo after being identified as a strong genetic match.
- Chester Zoo introduced the pups to the public this week, including a TikTok video of their first health check.
- The quartet represents one of just three fossa litters reported in European zoos in 2025 and is described by the zoo as vital to European and international breeding efforts.
- The fossa is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN with wild numbers in the low thousands, and the zoo highlights long-running habitat work in Madagascar, including support for the Mangabe New Protected Area.