Beloved mountain lion cubs who became cuddle buddies after rescue move to new CA home
Two abandoned California mountain lion cubs, who quickly became friends after being rescued within weeks of each other, have arrived at their long-awaited home.
Cubs Holly and Hazel, who are now considered “lanky teenagers,” arrived at Big Bear Alpine Zoo on Wednesday, May 3, after spending months under the care of staff at the Oakland Zoo.
“We will miss these girls but are so happy they have each other and a second chance at life,” the Oakland Zoo wrote in a farewell video posted to Facebook.
In December, Holly, named after the holiday season, was taken to the zoo’s veterinary hospital after being orphaned in Santa Cruz, the zoo said.
The zoo said it “worked around the clock to save the cub.”
“She’s frail. We’ll be taking it one day at a time,” Alex Herman, the zoo’s vice president of veterinary services, says in the video.
Just weeks later, another orphaned mountain lion cub from Santa Cruz was brought to the zoo.
“This cub was in such poor condition, our vet team performed a blood transfusion from our resident mountain lion Silverado to save her life,” the zoo said.
After a successful transfusion, Hazel “began to heal,” the zoo said.
The pair were introduced to one another a few weeks later and became quick cuddle buddies, McClatchy News previously reported.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife began searching for a permanent home for the two after determining they lacked the skills to survive in the wild having been “orphaned at such a young age,” according to the zoo.
“While a permanent home for the cubs was found, we were able to move Holly and Hazel to a new holding space next to our resident mountain lions,” the zoo said.
During their stay there, the cubs “continued to improve,” according to the zoo. The cubs’ bond strengthened while they grew stronger themselves.
“They’ve come so far, from being critically ill rescues to bonded, thriving young mountain lions,” the zoo wrote in a May 2 Facebook post.
The pair prepared for their big move to Big Bear Alpine Zoo, which included “Holly trying her first ever hard-boiled egg,” the zoo shared in a May 1 tweet.
“We will be sad to see this lovable pair go, but we are happy to have been able to save both of their lives, and that California Department of Fish and Wildlife chose a home they could go to together,” the zoo said.
Big Bear Alpine Zoo announced the cubs’ arrival with a Facebook post, calling them “beautiful and healthy cats.”
Though the two are currently in quarantine, they are expected “to be on exhibit sometime in June,” the zoo said.
“We’re beyond thrilled for them to be under our care,” the zoo said.
This story was originally published May 4, 2023 at 4:58 PM with the headline "Beloved mountain lion cubs who became cuddle buddies after rescue move to new CA home."
