Madagascar is known for its unique animals, one of which is the carnivorous fossa. The fossa is related to the mongoose and weighs about 20 lbs. Fossas have tails just as long as their bodies, about 2 and a half feet, which help them balance while climbing trees. Despite this relatively small size, the fossa is the largest mammalian carnivore on the island.

The fossa that has recently joined the Denver Zoo comes from the San Diego Zoo. He is four years old and named Dorian.

Read more about Dorian and see additional photos at KDVR.com.

Visit the Denver Zoo’s website for more information: www.denverzoo.com.

Bai Yun, who was reported last month to be pregnant, has given birth to a cub this week. She has given birth to four other cubs in her life: Hua Mei, Mei Sheng, Su Lin and Zhen Zhen. The most recent cub has yet to be named.

Although it was possible that she would give birth to twins, it appears that she will not give birth to the second cub. Pandas have the ability to reabsorb a fetus if it is not fully developed.

Read more at the LA Times.

Check out the San Diego Zoo Panda Cam.

Read more about giant pandas on Animal Fact Guide.

It has recently been confirmed that Bai Yun, a giant panda living at the San Diego Zoo (on loan from China’s Wolong Giant Panda Research Center) is pregnant!

An ultrasound showed that Bai Yun is currently carrying two fetuses, so it is possible she will give birth to twins.

Giant pandas are highly endangered in their native habitat of southwest China. To learn more about giant pandas in the wild, see Animal Fact Guide’s article: Giant Panda.

For more info about Bai Yun, see LA Times.

Photo: Ken Bohn / San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park

A male African elephant calf was born on Friday at the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park. Weighing in at 220 pounds, the baby elephant will be observed for a few days before joining the rest of the herd, which includes four other elephant calves.

The world’s largest land mammals, African elephants can grow as large as 3.3 m (10 ft.) at the shoulder and 6000 kg (6.6 tons).  They are considered near threatened by the IUCN as poaching and urban sprawl pose massive threats to their survival in the wild.

For more information about the baby elephant, see:
LA Times Unleashed
San Diego Zoo’s Elephant Baby Video

To learn more about African elephants in the wild, see Animal Fact Guide’s article: African Elephant.

Photo: AP Photo/San Diego Zoo, Tammy Spratt

Baby Bornean sun bears Palu and Pagi were born at the San Diego Zoo on October 25.  They debuted at the San Diego Zoo exhibit on Monday.

This is the third birth of Bornean sun bears in North America.  Bornean sun bears are the smallest species of bear.  Their small stature and long claws make the bears well-suited to living in trees.  Due to habitat loss, poaching, and pet trade, Bornean sun bears are endangered in the wild.

For more info:
Associated Press
San Diego Zoo’s Sun Bear Cubs Video
San Diego Zoo’s Bornean Sun Bear Page

Frank, the baby western lowland gorilla born last September at the San Diego Zoo, finally arrived in the public eye. His aunt Ndjia made sure the baby felt safe in the gorilla habitat.

Other recent western gorilla births include the baby gorilla whose mother rejected him at the San Francisco Zoo and the gorilla who was born in view of spectators at the National Zoo.

For more info: NECN.com