Fossa Pup Update
Posted at 12:46 pm August 2, 2007 by Janet Hawes
On July 17, the San Diego Zoo’s fossa pups were six weeks old (see Janet’s previous blog, Our First Fossas). Vet techs arrived at the nursery to administer the first vaccinations. These injections were the first in a series of four (given four weeks apart) that protect the neonate against certain infectious diseases. It was decided that we would try training the fossa cubs as animal ambassadors, something that no one has ever attempted to do before.
Along with their routine baby shots, the fossas met the Children’s Zoo training staff. Our trainers wanted to get an early crack at spending time with the two boys. Sometime we hand rear animals in the nursery who are destined for use as education animals. Part of our job is to get the animals used to handling early and often and then help the trainers to become part of the young animal’s social family. Early exposure ensures that the trainers are part of “the gang,” and this arrangement is less stressful for the baby and the trainer. At only six weeks of age, however, the pups were not fully protected against infectious disease, so the visits had to be closely regulated. Trainers visited the boys in the mornings, before working with any other animals (to prevent disease transfer). We were fussy about cleanliness, too, requiring fresh uniforms, special gowns, and footwear along with a handwash using a surgical soap. The boys were so young that the visits from their new friends didn’t cause much of a flap. Instead, they took the visits in stride and were relaxed and enjoying the added attention that the trainers provided.
As we changed the fossas’ routine, their behavior began to emerge quickly. We had just begun to wonder why these two were developing so slowly. The shaky limbs and head (neonatal ataxia) began to fade. What replaced it was a much more confident stride. We added a few perches to their enclosure to watch them for signs of climbing. When we saw them begin to bat each other in mock play, we gave them an even larger cage to exercise in. Because the cubs were maintaining their body temperature on their own now, we discontinued the use of heat lamps and hot water bottles. Play biting began in earnest when the cubs’ eyes finally cleared, and they were routinely trucking around with bellies raised off the floor.
However, our optimism turned to sadness. On the morning of July 26, one of the two pups was found dead beside his sleeping brother at the first morning check. The poor little guy was curled up as if asleep but was already cool to the touch. His body was rushed to pathology, where it was discovered that he had an abnormally enlarged heart. The days and weeks preceding the cub’s death were unremarkable. He gained weight and developed normally and was as active and playful as his littermate. The night before death, the little cub finished his last bottle and curled into a comfortable position with his brother. There were absolutely no symptoms of disease or distress.
All of the fossa care givers in the nursery were, of course, devastated. We had weeks to become attached to the pup. Luckily, this situation is rare. Generally symptoms accompany severe illness or injury and care givers are prepared for bad news. We spent extra time with the remaining pup as he adjusted to the loss of his brother.
It may be weeks before we discover the exact cause of the enlarged heart, but whether it was acquired or congenital, we were concerned for the remaining pup. Veterinarians immediately scheduled a complete diagnostic survey of the living pup’s heart. Luckily, the remaining pup was found to be healthy.
Janet Hawes is a senior keeper in the nursery of the Children’s Zoo at the San Diego Zoo.
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August 2nd, 2007 at 1:38 pm
Oh no, my heart just dropped. I am so, so sorry. I hope his brother gets along ok. So sad.
August 2nd, 2007 at 1:50 pm
Janet, since the other cubs from this litter disappeared do you think that maybe something could have been wrong with them and that’s why the mother might have killed them. I am sorry for your loss because I know how easy it is to get attached to them as with any little critter, I hand feed baby racoons with whom I am very careful and also opposums. What ever shows up in the yard gets a little something to eat. Thank god we don’t have any bears. Thanks for all the love and care you give the little ones in you care and to all who watch over our babies
August 2nd, 2007 at 5:01 pm
I just saw your remaining pup today and read about the sad story in the window. Im deeply saddened by this loss as I am a fan of fossas, but they living pup seemed happy and playful in the nursery. With all the hard work you keepers are doing im confidenthe will live a happy and healty long life!
August 2nd, 2007 at 5:20 pm
Oh, I’m so sorry for your loss…! I was hoping the two little guys would grow up healthy…especially given their early struggle. I hope his brother will grow up nice and strong! Rooting for you little guy!
August 3rd, 2007 at 1:49 pm
I am so sorry to hear about your loss. The brothers seemed inseparable whenever I visited them. Thankfully, the remaining pup is healthy and continues to receive the best of loving care from all of you. Will he continue to be trained to become an animal ambassador? I so much respect the hard work (from trainer and student) that goes into the process and it must be rewarding, too.
August 6th, 2007 at 6:48 am
Damn, I too am sorry to hear about his death. Hope the brother continues to thrive.
Whereto the mother: As Barbara (#2) said, the mother may have killed her other pups because they were ill. Or she may have killed them because of stress. Before her next litter make her comfortable with you. And the best way to do that is by being comfortable with her and her mate. Don’t be defensive or nervous around them, be at ease. Talk to them, and let them see what you’re doing.
It’s not a natural situation and you’re not going to get natural behavior out of them. At least not natural in the way some people insist is natural. We let them animals do adapt to our presence. Oftimes they will interact with us of their own accord. We can no more separate ourselves from the world than we can keep the world from turning.
Most important, don’t fuss over the next set of babies, let them be. No peeking, no handling, no fretting about how they’re doing. Trust Momma. Fossas have been having kids for a long time now, they don’t need you driving them nuts with your anxieties. When they’re ready for you, Momma Fossa will let you know.
Good luck with the next litter, and take some time to chill. (Might I suggest one of you taking your zoology text into the fossa enclosure one nice, sunny day, and reading aloud to them? Let them get used to you and the sound of your voice. And if they decide you’re a nice place to listen to your reading, or watch the world, or nap, then that’s their choice. Just remember, you are not some unnatural invader from another universe.)
August 7th, 2007 at 8:27 pm
I am so sorry for your loss. It must have been such a shock. Thankfully the other pup seems to have been ok with it as he slept soundly through it all. He will enjoy the extra attention, and how the ‘play’ evolves with his human surrogates will be interesting.
I too am curious, as Barbara #2 mentioned, about the possibility of the disappearance because of some abnormality in the other pups. Although it was previously mentioned that due to stress this mother fossa has been known to kill her pups. Perhaps her stress is caused by a knowledge that something undetectible to humans is wrong with her newborn pups???
August 9th, 2007 at 7:46 pm
Just been reading your fossa pups updates, and I found out that Isa’s brother passed away. WOW!!! That was an unexpected shock! Sorry that you lost him! It would have been great to see both of them grow together so that you all can gain some huge insight into their pack behavior and how they get along. Just like you wrote in your blogs, the 2 pups were just going like gangbusters, and there was no sign of any illness in the pup. I hope that you all do find out what really caused his death and give us a report on your blog as soon as you get the info. The last blog you wrote about Isa was great. It sounds like he’s getting on with life, starting to grow and develop, and really making a name for himself with you all! Loved the part when he ” spit” some of his solid food onto one of the keeper’s laps! I know you all had a big happy faces when he did that, because that just shows how feisty Isa is now. I also like the idea of having Isa as part of the fossa education series as soon as you get him trained for that because he will be a very good ambassador for the fossas in the wild. Apparently, you all are working towards gaining a lot of more info about these animals in the wild of Madagascar since there is so little known about them. I myself have never heard of them until I read about the 2 new fossa pups being born on your website. I did see a pic of one on the website, and they are a little strange looking, but I bet they have great personalities in them! Looking forward to reading some more about Isa and his development as he keeps growing into a fine young adult!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL