Dr Leslie Dickie - Conservation Officer

How did your work with Madagascar first come about?

When I was a zoo keeper I became interested in the country of Madagascar and specifically the largest carnivore on the island called a fossa. This is a beautiful animal that I found fascinating, and this animal became the subject of my Ph(d) thesis.

The fossa sounds like an amazing animal. Did you do any direct work with this species?
Yes. I did a study. We worked in the field with these animals and we caught them and placed a collar round their neck, which emitted a signal meaning we could track them wherever they went around the forest to monitor them. It’s important to monitor their presence as there are only approximately 2,500 left on the island of Madagascar.

What does a fossa eat?

A fossa is a carnivore so eats ring-tailed lemurs and gentle lemurs. Fossa’s are active in both the daytime and the nighttime so can hunt animals that sleep in the day or the night.

Does a fossa’s eyes glow in the dark?

Yes. They are green. There’s two main ways you can find a fossa in the dark. Firstly by smelling them as they have a really strong smell. The second way is by using a torch and shining it into the trees – if you can see a pair of green eyes shining back then you’ve found a fossa!

What is the forest like in Madagascar?

The forest is amazing. Man only arrived on Madagascar approximately 2000 years ago, which is really rare. Before that there were just animals. The animals are not scared of humans at all. When we lived in the forest we used to see the same owl sitting in the same hollow of the same tree everyday when we walked past. The animals don’t see people as something which is dangerous to them.

Are there specific sounds or smells in the forests of Madagascar?

The fossas have a very strong distinct smell so you can tell when there is a fossa close by because you can smell it. In terms of sounds it is quite quiet in the forest, which is unusual compared to another forest such as an Amazonian forest.

What work is ZSL currently doing in Madagascar?

We are working in two different areas. The first is the Madagascan Fauna group, which is a group of forty organizations working together in forests and reserves. We have worked as part of this group for the past twenty years. The second is as part of the Madagascar Campaign. This is a group of 150 organizations that are raising money and awareness for Madagascar. It is currently Madagascar Awareness week and at ZSL London Zoo there are games and activities taking place near the Amphitheatre. The money raised from awareness week will benefit 20 different projects spread over the country of Madagascar, and the animals of those areas.