A MUCH-LOVED resident at Lakeland Wildlife Oasis is getting ready to party like an animal this July, thanks to a very special birthday bash hosted by the team.

Perdy – the park’s fossa – will be turning ‘sweet 16’ on Wednesday July 6 and the public are invited to attend the mid-week celebrations.

The Oasis’ Jo Marsden says: “I’m throwing Perdy a bit of a 'sweet sixteen' party with a cake. It’ll be a great opportunity to make a fuss and as it’s mid-week and there are no other public events on, more people can get along to join in the fun!”

In the meantime, plans are in place for a new fossa enclosure to be built, thanks to a successful fundraising initiative last year. Jo says the birthday party will give the team a chance to update everyone who contributed to the fund, as well as provide a rare opportunity to see Perdy enjoy some birthday cake.  There’ll also be a Fossa talk, her enclosure will be decorated and visitors will be able to witness a special 'clicker training' session between Perdy and her keeper.

Reaching nearly six feet in length, fossas look like a cross between a cat, a dog and a mongoose. With slender bodies, muscular limbs, and short, reddish-brown coats, the mammal is endemic to Madagascar and largely communicates via its scent glands.