A three-week-old mountain lion cub, named Crimson, has been rescued by biologists from the Santa Monica mountains in southern California after being found alone for several days. The cub, who was emaciated and unable to stand, is now receiving care at the Oakland Zoo.
National Park Service biologists monitoring the area's mountain lion population visited the cub multiple times. They concluded the mother had likely moved to another den, abandoning the cub. The cub's health deteriorated, showing weakness and weight loss, prompting a rescue in consultation with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
At the Oakland Zoo, Crimson is in an intensive care unit and receives bottle feedings every three hours. Zoo CEO Nik Dehejia said the cub was 'extremely tiny' and could fit into cupped hands. It is rare for mountain lions to abandon their offspring, but a possible cause is the cub's missing toes, which may have signalled to the mother that he would not survive well.
Crimson is the 33rd mountain lion rescued by the Oakland Zoo. Another young cub, three-month-old Clover, is also at the zoo. Dehejia emphasised that while the zoo is proud to rehabilitate Crimson, they prefer cubs to stay with their families, as they need their mothers for nursing and socialisation.
Factors such as habitat fragmentation, urban development, and human-wildlife conflict contribute to the zoo receiving distressed animals. Dehejia noted that humans are often encroaching on wildlife habitats, highlighting a broader issue of coexistence.
The zoo's immediate focus is on helping Crimson grow strong and weaning him off bottle feedings. As Crimson and Clover are close in age, they may become companions, though introductions will be gradual over several weeks.
