The Children’s Zoo keepers and I have been tasked with the awesome job of having to train little Isa, the male fossa pup in our nursery (see previous blog, Fossa Pup Picks Up Speed). We began visits with him when he was about five weeks old. The first visits were similar to holding a new human baby who is so uncoordinated and helpless. We wanted to start early with Isa to increase the bonding potential. As far as we know, no one has every used a fossa in educational programs and we want to set ourselves up to succeed. There are 47 fossas in managed care facilities, so the likeliness that he will need to go off some day and breed is high. But we want to teach the world about fossas as much as we can. (An adult female fossa is pictured below.)

Today I visited him in a new, bigger exercise room. Fossas remind me of a half dog/half cat-like adorable, yet feisty, creature. Today he was no more the helpless little neonate; now we have a curious, agile explorer who is fearless. Isa began exploring right away. No longer docile and wanting to be held all the time, he would scamper off to climb the nearest branch or run up and pounce on a toy. I was able to get his harness on and he didn’t seem to mind at all. He has charmed all the keepers and trainers and we look forward to working with him for future animal presentations.

Nicki Boyd is the animal care supervisor at the San Diego Zoo’s Children’s Zoo.

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