Conservationists at Chester Zoo are celebrating the birth of the UK’s only fossa pups in what is a huge boost for the ‘rare species’.
The four rare pups, who have been born to parents Shala and Zaza, are the first of their kind to be born in the UK this year, and one of only three litters born in all zoos across Europe in 2025, so not only are they a big deal for Chester Zoo, they’re a big deal globally too.
Carnivore experts at the zoo have hailed the arrival of the two male and two female pups as ‘vital new additions’ to an international breeding programme.
The breeding programme is working to ensure the continued survival of the already-rare species.
Unsure what a fossa is? The fossa is a slender, cat-like mammal that can grow up to 6ft long and is adapted for a life in the trees, as they use their long tails for balance and can climb down headfirst with the help of retractable claws.
ADVERTISEMENT
The fossa is the largest natural predator in Madagascar, and is a highly-threatened species, with their currently estimated to be fewer than 2,500 of them remaining in the wild, largely due to mass deforestation.
Fossa pups are born blind, weighing about 100g (about the same as a small apple).
ADVERTISEMENT
They first leave their den several months after birth, and having been born on 8 July 2025, Chester Zoo’s new 12-week-old pups have now been spotted by zookeepers and zoo visitors venturing out for the first time.
Chester Zoo is celebrating birth of UK’s only fossa pups in a boost for the ‘rare species’ / Credit: Chester Zoo
“Welcoming four newborn fossa pups is such an incredible moment for us – and seeing them venture out of the den for the very first time has been a real privilege,” commented Dave Hall, who is the Team Manager of carnivores at the zoo.
“They’re already showing off their adventurous sides by climbing and exploring every branch they can find. Mum Shala certainly has her paws full when it comes to keeping track of them all, but she’s doing a brilliant job and is a very attentive mum.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Dave said the zoo is going to start drawing up a list of potential names as each of the pups grow and begin to develop more of their own distinct personality.
He concluded: “The birth of this litter is a major boost for the international conservation breeding programme in zoos globally.
“We’re now really excited to see how they develop.”
Featured Image – Chester Zoo
News
Major headliner pulls out of Manchester Village Pride
Daisy Jackson
One of the Manchester Village Pride headliners has had to pull out of their scheduled appearance, just one day before the celebrations begin.
Nadine Coyle was supposed to be headlining the LGBTQ+ event on Friday 27 August.
But in a statement shared by Manchester Village Pride today, they announced that the former Girls Aloud star is ‘under the weather’.
Nadine will be pulling out of her headline slot to ‘rest and recuperate’, but added that she hopes to see Manchester for Pride again soon.
Thankfully, Manchester Village Pride has already found a suitably fabulous replacement for the main stage on Friday – B*Witched.
The iconic Irish girl group will be encouraging ticket-holders to dig out their double denim and dance to hits like C’est La Vie and Rollercoaster.
In the statement shared by Manchester Village Pride, Nadine’s team said: “Nadine is so sorry to have to step out of Manchester Village Pride this year. It was her very first Pride many years ago and she loves getting to spend time with you all.
“Nadine’s voice has been under the weather and she only wants to give absolute best to you all which sadly won’t be possible this weekend as she needs time to rest and recuperate.
“We hate to do it so near the day. Nadine was really hoping she was going to be well enough and hopes she can see you in Manchester for Pride again soon.
“Thank you for being so kind and understanding and we hope you have a wonderful weekend.”
Manchester Village Pride added: “We know how excited many of you were for a massive hit of 2000s pop nostalgia, and we promised you a party. We’ve been working around the clock, and we are beyond thrilled to announce that pop royalty B*WITCHED are stepping in at the eleventh hour!”
Chester Zoo announces return of its £10 tickets for limited time only with extended opening hours
Emily Sergeant
Chester Zoo has announced the return of its popular £10 tickets deal for a limited time only.
You may remember that earlier this summer, Chester Zoo invited people from across the North West to visit for just £10, and as the offer proved so popular, they’ve now brought it back again for a limited time.
For the past three years running now, Chester Zoo has officially been named the UK’s best zoo thanks to tens of thousands of positive TripAdvisor reviews, and now as the summer draws to a close, you’ll get to see exactly what makes it such a special place worth visiting for a cut price.
With the offer only applicable to afternoons this summer, Afternoon Tickets allow entry to Chester Zoo from 2pm onwards – with the last entry being one-hour before it closes.
Chester Zoo is offering £10 tickets to visitors this summer / Credit: Chester Zoo
Without this offer, standard admission tickets to Chester Zoo usually cost up to £38 for adults, £37 for students, and £28 for children, all including a 10% donation to the zoo’s conservation efforts, while babies and carers go free.
So it really is worth making the most of these limited-time £10 tickets while you still can – with the offer now running until 6 September.
The best bit about the offer returning? The zoo is currently operating its extended opening hours until 6pm too, so included for the bargain price of a £10 ticket, you’ll even get to see all the animals while the sun goes down.
Afternoon tickets are only available online and must be booked in advance to claim the £10 offer.
Tickets can only be purchased online before 4pm on the day of your visit, and standard admission tickets can be purchased from our ticket office at the main entrance.
Find out more and book your £10 tickets online here.
Emily Sergeant -
10th October 2025 
