Fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox) Fact Sheet: Population & Conservation Status

Global population

• Difficult to measure; 2,600-8,600 individuals estimated (Hawkins 2016)

Protected populations (Gerber et al. 2012b)

• Estimated population in protected reserves: 2,635 adults
  • Most (c.1,855) inhabit rainforest reserves
  • Only the Masaola-Makira and Zahamena-Mantadia-Vohidrazana rainforest complexes are likely to hold >300 adults

IUCN status

• Vulnerable (2015 assessment) (Hawkins 2016)

CITES status

• Appendix II (UNEP 2018)

Habitat loss and fragmentation (Hawkins and Dollar 2008)

• Driven by deforestation
  • Forested areas converted to agricultural land and pasture
  • Logging

Hunting

• Fossa killed when they threaten livestock or livelihoods (Golden 2009)
  • Fossa meat consumed in several villages; 8 of 14 villages in one study
  • Rate of harvest unsustainable, in the Makira Forest

Fossa in Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, Madagascar.

Image credit: © David Cook, via Flickr. Some rights reserved.

Gerber et al. (2012b)
Golden (2009)
Hawkins and Dollar (2008)