Fossas are native to the island of Madagascar.
Fossas are only found on the island of Madagascar in the wild. These unique animals are mammals and members of the Eupleridae family.
The Eupleridae family consists of a variety of species, including:
. The Giant Fossa
. The Ring-Tailed Vontisira
. The Western Falanouc
. The Eastern Falanouc
. The Malagasy Civet
. The Broad Striped-Malagasy Mongoose
. The Grandidier's Mongoose
. The Narrow-Striped Mongoose
. The Brown-Tailed Mongoose
. The Durrell's Vontsira
All of these animals are members of the same family and are related.
Where Are Fossa's Found?
Fossa's are only found on the island of Madagascar, which makes them a unique and rare animal.
What Is The Habitat Of Fossa's?
Fossa's can be found living within the forests of Madagascar.
What Do Fossa's Eat In The Wild?
Fossa's are strictly carnivores, which means that they only eat other animals in the wild. They eat other animals which are native to the Madagascan forest. These other animals include: Lemurs and Sifakas.
What Are The Threats Faced By Fossa's?
One of the major threats faced by Fossa's, is, the disappearance of the animals that they eat: Lemurs are at risk of extinction because of human activity within Madagascar and while Sifaka's are also at risk of extinction as they are classed as critically endangered today. The decline of Lemur's and Sifaka's put Fossa's at risk of extinction as Fossa's rely on these animals for their survival.
There are other threats which Fossa's face in the wild. One of the major threats that they face is the destruction of their habitat. The vast majority of the Madagascan rainforest has already been destroyed - it is estimated that an astounding 80% of the Madagascan rainforest has already been destroyed, while the rest of the Madagascan rainforest is expected to be destroyed by 2080. If the Madagascan rainforest becomes extinct then all of the animals that rely on the forest for their survival will also become extinct.
The deforestation of the Madagascan rainforest is happening for several reasons. Two of the main reasons why the deforestation is occurring is 1) due to people logging the rainforest, and 2) people deforesting the rainforest to clear the land so that they can use that land for agriculture. Therefore, deforestation in itself is a major risk to Fossa's, especially because the Fossa population is so low today.
What Is The Fossa Population Today?
Fossa's have a low population today. According to the IUCN, the Fossa population is between 2,635 and 8,626 animals in the wild today.
What Is The Conservation Status Of Fossa's Today?
Fossa's are currently classed as vulnerable, which means that these unique animals are vulnerable to extinct.
What Does The Future Hold For Fossa's?
The future of Fossa's will depend on us: the future of Fossa's relies on us saving the Madagascan rainforest and the animals within that rainforest, especially the animals that the Fossa relies on for their existence: Lemurs and Sifakas. Saving these animals and the Madagascan rainforest is crucial if we are to prevent Fossa's becoming extinct in the future.
How Can You Help Fossa's?
You can help Fossa's by adopting one with the WWF.
You can adopt a Fossa with the WWF - here!