Cryptoprocte féroce

The major threats to Fosa are hunting for food and the loss and fragmentation of forest habitat, largely caused by the conversion of forested areas to agricultural land and pasture; selective logging degrades the habitat.  

Household surveys (Farris et al. in review a) found 99 Fosas reportedly consumed within four villages (144 households were surveyed) from 2005 to 2011 across the Makira Natural Park. Hunting rates were highest in non-degraded forest and were positively associated with Fosa occupancy, meaning that hunters appear to be focusing their efforts in non-degraded forest where Fosa is most abundant. Golden et al (in press) report four Fosas hunted in one year at Betampona Strict Nature Reverve, two hunted opportunistically (presumably with dogs). Household interviews conducted by Madagasikara Voakajy (pers. comm. 2014) in the Moramanga region of eastern Madagascar between 2008 and 2009 suggest that 325 (21%) of 1,535 respondents interviewed in 129 villages had eaten Fosa in the preceding year. 

Hunting is presumed to have increased significantly in many parts of the species' range since 2009 because of less effective governance and increased social instability following a coup d'etat.

Deforestation and forest disturbance across the range of the Fosa has increased significantly since 2009. R. Rajaonson (pers. comm. 2014) estimates that deforestation in eastern forest increased from 0.5% per annum in 2005-2010 to 0.94% per annum in 2010-2013. Allnut et al. (2009) estimated that in Masoala National Park, annual rates of deforestation in the studied area increased to 1.27% per annum in 2011. High levels of illegal settlement in protected areas, especially around the Bay of d'Antongil, are linked to artisanal mining (for quartz) and logging of rosewood; hunting for food using dogs has increased greatly in these areas as a result. Some villages have seen increases in populations of between 200 and 300% (C. Golden pers. comm. 2014). Around Ranomafana National Park, Fosa is absent from forest fragments more than 15 km from core habitat and is about equally often detected in degraded and primary habitats (Gerber et al. 2012)

In western Madagascar, Zinner et al. (2014) showed that for central Menabe, one of the most important centres of Fosa distribution, deforestation rates of 0.78 km²/yr in 2003-2006 increased to 1.09 km²/yr in 2006-2008, and to 2.55 km²/yr by 2008-2010. There is ample evidence that the increase continued in 2010-2014, coupled with increased illegal logging and hunting in the core forest areas, which will undoubtedly negatively effect populations of all native carnivores, especially through the increased presence of dogs. 

The Fosa also preys on domestic fowl and is consequently killed as a pest by local people. It seems very susceptible to hunting, and is often targeted by groups engaged in collective group hunting (e.g. in the Makira forests) specifically for the purpose of eradication. Its parts are used for medicinal purposes. Competition with introduced carnivores occurs, including predation by feral dog packs. The Fosa seems to be more nocturnal when in the same areas as highly active diurnal people and dogs. High nocturnal activity overlaps with activity of both Small Indian Civet Viverricula indica and feral/wild cats, revealing the potential for increased interactions and competition (Farris et al. in review b).

Many camera-trap photographs of Fosas show animals carrying nooses from make-shift traps, and many show individuals with numerous scars and missing body parts (ears, lips, tails) which reportedly result from locals trying to kill them with machetes when they raid their livestock.

The Fosa is listed on Appendix II of CITES. It is present in many protected areas throughout Madagascar (such as Kirindy Forest, and Ranomafana, Masaola, and Ankarafantsika National Parks). It is the subject of a successful ex situ captive breeding programme. Better protection of little-encroached forests and awareness programmes concerning the value of this species for pest control are needed. This species is not currently protected adequately under national legislation, because there are conflicts within national legislation, as well as within and between local community laws.