Three-week-old mountain lion cub rescued by California biologists
The Guardian • • entertainment
Key Points:
- A lion cub named Crimson was found alone and abandoned in Southern California’s Santa Monica Mountains, likely left by his mother who may have moved to another den.
- The cub, estimated to be three weeks old and suffering from malnutrition and weakness, was rescued by National Park Service biologists and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife before being taken to the Oakland Zoo for intensive care.
- Crimson has a physical abnormality—missing toes—that may have contributed to his mother abandoning him, though the exact reason remains unknown.
- The Oakland Zoo, which has rescued 33 mountain lions including another cub named Clover, emphasizes that removing cubs from the wild is a last resort and highlights broader issues like habitat fragmentation and human-wildlife conflict.
- The zoo is currently focused on rehabilitating Crimson, providing frequent bottle feedings, and planning to gradually introduce him to Clover as a potential companion.
