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A male mountain lion cub named Crimson was rescued in March at just 3 weeks old after it was determined that he had been abandoned by his mother
He had missing toes and a hind foot injury, which meant that Oakland Zoo had to amputate his limb
After months of care, it was announced that Crimson would move to his new forever home, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Arkansas
A mountain lion cub that had to have a limb amputated after he was abandoned by his mother has found his forever home at a wildlife refuge.
Crimson was just three weeks old when he was left behind by his mother, who had moved to a different den site, according to a Facebook statement by Oakland Zoo.
Staff at Los Angeles Zoo discovered the kitten was missing toes on one foot, which staff determined happened in the wild.
Crimson as a cub being bottle fedCredit: Oakland Zoo
Crimson was also suffering from a hind foot injury, which Oakland Zoo believed could have been “life-threatening in the wild.”
The cub was transported via Flying Tails animal air ambulance back to Oakland Zoo, where veterinary teams decided to amputate the impacted limb.
“Since then, Crimson has made an incredible recovery, adapting to life on three legs and is growing into a healthy young mountain lion. 🥹,” the update said.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife determined that Crimson’s permanent home will be the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
The kitten was thought to be too young to go through the rehabilitation and release program.
Mountain lion cubs need between 12 and 18 months with their mother to learn “essential survival skills,” per the Oakland Zoo. “Because Crimson is so young, he lacks the skills necessary to be released back into the wild,” it added.
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The zoo says he will be moving across the country in the coming weeks, where he will “continue to have plenty of enrichment, diligent veterinary care, and the opportunity to grow and thrive for years to come.”
When biologists first found Crimson, he had lost 10% of his body weight and was vocalizing often, which allowed them to determine that he had been abandoned, PEOPLE previously reported. Officials noted that they monitored Crimson closely before intervening.
He spent time in intensive care, being bottle-fed every three hours by staff who attempted to recreate the lessons he would’ve been taught by his mother in the wild.
Oakland Zoo thanked the National Park Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Los Angeles Zoo, Flying Tails, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, and their veterinary hospital and animal care staff for “working together to give Crimson a second chance at life.”
Read the original article on People