Oakland Zoo launches mountain lion CubCam to watch ‘Maple’ and ‘Willow’
(KRON) — The Oakland Zoo has a veterinary care program for sick, injured, and orphaned wild mountain lions. You can now watch them at any time on the Oakland Zoo’s live CubCam.
On Nov. 14, 2023, two young mountain lion sisters, estimated between 6-10 weeks old, were found wandering near Burlingame after their mother had been hit and killed by a vehicle nearby, the Oakland Zoo stated. The orphaned cubs were picked up by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and brought to Oakland Zoo’s veterinary hospital for rehabilitation.
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The cubs were given full examinations and got treated for parasites and viruses. The following day, the mountain lion rescue team named the sisters Maple and Willow.
Oakland Zoo’s veterinary team gives rescued animals services such as immediate care, ongoing treatment, and providing shelter in their intensive care units. According to the zoo, the mountain lion rescue program has rescued over 20 mountain lions since 2017.
Cubs can stay anywhere from several hours to several months, but the goal of the program is to eventually release these mountain lions back into the wild.
“Sadly, a majority of rescued cubs are so young, that without their mothers to teach them essential skills, they wouldn’t survive in the wild. In those cases, CDFW chooses ‘forever homes’ at reputable organizations or sanctuaries,” the mountain lion rescue team stated.
In February, Oakland Zoo expanded its program to include a “head start space.” When healthy enough, the head start space allows rescued cubs to interact and socialize with their resident adult mountain lions.
“These interactions build social skills, help cubs adjust to non-hospital settings, and provide an easier transition to their future homes, giving them experience with animal neighbors, human visitors, and other factors,” the rescue program stated.
Maple and Willow can be seen on the CubCam at any time between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., but the zoo recommends best viewing in the 10 a.m. hour after they had their breakfast and have new toys to play with.
The Oakland Zoo will continue housing Maple and Willow until the California Department of Fish and Wildlife finds the pair a suitable “furrever home.”
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