Oakland Zoo Gives Sweet Update on Rescued Mountain Lion Cub Siblings
Whether you're a fan of watching wild animal videos online or are lucky enough to work firsthand with exotic creatures, there's no doubt just how special each and every animal is. When visiting the zoo, I find it mind-blowing to see the diversity in animals' looks and behaviors--but if anything, it only helps me appreciate them more.
That's why I love hearing about the rescued animals that local zoos get to care for. And because I live in the California Bay Area, there are so many zoos to visit and follow! One recent story that's just as heartwarming as it is adorable is that of Maple and Willow. These female mountain lion cubs were rescued in November after a motorist tragically killed their mother, but they're already doing a lot better after spending some time at the Oakland Zoo. Their keepers even released a video on December 11 showing just how much the little girls are thriving. Take a look!
Aww! These mountain lion cubs are as cute as can be, and they look so healthy for babies who were orphaned just a month ago. As the @oaklandzoo--one of the nation's best zoos--explained, the gals are gaining weight as they grow, and eating certainly seems not to be a problem for them. They chowed down on their meal like they hadn't eaten in days!
Related: Oakland Zoo Rescues 2 Precious Orphaned Mountain Lion Cubs
It's exactly as commenter @mamacon9 said. There's "no failure to thrive with these two!" Living in captivity has got to be a lot less stressful for an orphaned baby animal, so it makes sense that they'd be enjoying their new, luxurious home with round-the-clock care.
Misconceptions About Releasing Rescued Animals Into the Wild
Even though Willow and Maple are doing so well in their new roles as zoo animals, not everyone is happy. One commenter echoed popular criticism, saying that they wish the cubs were free. In a perfect world, they would be! The zookeepers and animal handlers are doing all they can to teach the cubs all the normal mountain lion behaviors they would know in the wild, but the one thing they can't do is release them.
As the zoo explained in one of their blog posts about the big cat babies, "mountain lion cubs need about two years with their mother to learn survival skills. Because the cubs are so young, they lack those skills and cannot return to the wild."
Instead, these lucky twins are now residents of the Oakland Zoo, though they're living in enclosures behind the scenes for now. Remember--they're babies, and they're still getting used to just about everything. Hopefully by the time the spring rolls around, they'll be ready to say hello!
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