Two orphaned cougar cubs have found a new home at the Oregon Zoo after being rescued from southwest washington last month. The male and female cubs, estimated too be around four months old, were discovered wandering alone and deemed unable to survive without their mother by the Washington department of Fish and Wildlife.
“We’re so happy we can provide a home for these cubs,” said Jen Osburn Eliot, who oversees the zoo’s Great Northwest area. “We wish they could’ve grown up with their mom, but since that’s not possible we’ll be doing everything we can for them. They’re still shy with people, so we’re giving them time to adjust and explore their new home.”
Currently residing in the zoo’s veterinary medical center, the cubs weigh approximately 20 pounds each. Plans are underway to eventually relocate them to the cougar habitat in the zoo’s Great Northwest area.
“The cubs aren’t ready to venture out yet, but we’re getting the habitat prepared for a lot of activity once they are,” Osburn Eliot said. “In the wild, cougar cubs stay with their moms for at least a year, so we’re giving these two all the time they need to feel safe and comfortable in their new home.”
These cubs follow in the paw prints of Paiute,the zoo’s previous cougar resident who was also an orphan. Paiute arrived at the zoo in 2010 from Idaho Fish and Game and lived a long life until earlier this year,passing away at the age of 15.
Cougars, also known as mountain lions, pumas, and catamounts, are found throughout the Americas, from southwest Canada to South America. While not currently endangered, they face ongoing threats from habitat loss and human encroachment.
The Oregon Zoo plays a vital role in providing sanctuary for animals like these cubs, who serve as ambassadors to educate visitors about wildlife conservation and the importance of protecting their natural habitats.
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