Ground cuscus
Phalanger gymnotis
Otis, our ground cuscus, lives in his enclosure near the Mansion House and Budongo Trail.
Ground cuscuses come from New Guinea and nearby islands. They are marsupials, which means they carry their babies in a pouch.
They have long prehensile tails that can grab branches to help them balance while climbing. They are excellent climbers but also spend a lot of time on the ground.
Ground cuscuses are shy and prefer to be alone.
Population
Decreasing
Diet
Omnivore
Habitat
Rainforest
Fact file
There are 26 species of cuscus
Ground cuscus differ from other species of cuscus as they spend a lot of time living in burrows and appear as comfortable at ground level as they do in the trees
Cuscus are solitary animals, preferring to spend most of their time eating and living alone
They have vertical pupils, and the colour of their eyes can be blue, red, or orange
How we're helping
Like all the animals in our care Otis is an amazing ambassador for their relatives in the wild and helps hundreds of thousands of people connect with nature every year. They encourage visitors to learn about the threats facing wildlife and the action they can take to help create a world where nature is protected, valued and loved.
As a wildlife conservation charity, we care for the animals here at the zoo and work to protect species at risk around the world. From providing expertise in genetics and veterinary health, to protecting wild places with local conservation partners, and even restoring threatened species to the wild, we are active where we are needed most.
Find out more about RZSS conservation