3-Week-Old Mountain Lion Cub Rescued from California Fire

A firefighter in Shasta County rescued a mountain lion cub, which is believed to be only three to four weeks old, and brought the cub to Oakland Zoo for further treatment,

According to the Oakland Zoo, the orphaned mountain lion is recovering from burns as the three-and-a-half pound cub had cut whiskers, and its paws are badly burned. 

(Photo: Pixabay)
A firefighter in Shasta County found a mountain lion cub which is believed to be only three to four weeks old.

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How is the mountain lion cub doing?

After the firefighter's rescue in Shasta County on Sunday, the cub was taken to Oakland Zoo and was later transferred to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. However, the Fish and Wildlife Department is currently teeming with animals rescued from the California fires raging and consuming __ millions of hectares.

With the cub's whiskers singed off, its paws are badly burned, and his eyes are severely irritated, it is a miracle that the cub survived, Erin Harrison of the Oakland Zoo said. 

The excellent news is Wildlife biologist Pete Figura of the Department of Fish and Wildlife said that the cub was "alert and feisty"; thus, they are optimistic that the cub will be okay. 

The cub underwent an x-ray to assess its lungs for damage from smoke inhalation and check for any broken bones on Thursday. The test results came out fine except for the significant damage to his paws' soft tissue and his severely irritated eyes. 

The cub is on pain medication, antibiotics, and fluids and milk through a syringe. The Oakland Zoo collaborates with UC Davis Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital in treating the cub as vets are "cautiously optimistic" that the cub will be okay.

READ ALSO: COVID-19: Zoo's Conservation Work at Risk of Closure Due to Funding Crisis

The Mysterious Life of Mountain Lions 

Mountain lion cubs usually stay with their mother for about two years until they are strong enough to hunt and protect themselves. In this case, since the cub is orphaned, it cannot be released into the wild but will be placed at an accredited zoo, Harrison said.

The cubs or kittens are born weighing more than a pound. The cubs begin nursing minutes after and gain weight rapidly. After two weeks, the cubs can walk and open their eyes. In ten to 20 days, they begin to weigh; the kittens may weigh more than two pounds.

Mountain lions live 13 years in the wild, but only a few lions live a full natural life span. These creatures live quite a difficult life, faced with several challenges. They are shot for recreation, sport, and trophies, and are being blamed when livestock is lost, and pets disappear and are shot when people are afraid. 

Mountain lions or Puma concolor is also dubbed as the "cat with many names." It once had a wide range in Western Hemisphere, from Canadian Yukon to the straits of Magellan. Each native tribe and explorers gave the cat a different name. These solitary and elusive creatures are difficult to study and count, but the population of Mountain Lions in the US is now probably smaller than 30,000.

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