Not A Dog, Nor A Cat: Four Incredibly Cute Fossa Pups Have Been Born At Zoo

In a boon for this elusive and troubled species, a bundle of fossa pups have been born at Chester Zoo in the UK – and they’re undeniably adorable.

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A resident female named Shala recently welcomed the youngsters with the (ahem) help of Zaza, a seven-year-old male who arrived from San Diego Zoo in the US after being identified as an ideal genetic match.

The four pups – two males, two females – were born in July 2025, but they’ve only just left their mother's den. The species are born blind and tiny, weighing no more than an apple, so it takes several months before they’re ready to face the outside world.

If you’re wondering what on Earth a fossa is, you’re not alone. They look like a cross between a cat and a dog, yet they’re not closely related to either. In fact, they’re more closely related to mongooses.

The fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox) is the sole living member of its genus, a truly unique carnivore found only on the island of Madagascar off the coast of East Africa. They might resemble small, slinky cougars, but that’s just an example of convergent evolution, where unrelated animals develop similar traits to adapt to similar environmental pressures.

Measuring up to 1.8 meters (6 feet) from their nose to the tip of their tail, they are Madagascar’s largest predator and the only predator capable of preying on the native lemur species. As apex predators, they play a crucial role in keeping the island’s delicate ecosystems in balance.

Unfortunately, they face an uncertain future due to rampant deforestation and habitat destruction. Listed as “vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List, there are just 2,600 or so individuals left in the wild.

This imperiled future is why the recent news from Chester Zoo is such a bright ray of light for conservationists concerned about the species.

“The fossa is one of the world’s most mysterious and least-known carnivores - they’re so secretive that even the most experienced conservationists can go years without catching a glimpse of them in the wild as they move silently through Madagascar’s forests,” Mark Brayshaw, Head of Mammals at Chester Zoo, said in a statement sent to IFLScience.

“These births are therefore incredibly special. Not only are they the only pups in the UK and vital new additions to a European breeding programme designed to safeguard the species from extinction, their arrival gives us a unique opportunity to learn more about their biology, behaviours and social dynamics. This insight helps us build a more complete picture of the species, which is then used to inform conservation efforts in the wild,” commented Brayshaw.