A young\u00a0lynx\u00a0has captured the hearts of many in Manitoba and is starting a new chapter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lumi, a rescued baby lynx cared for by Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation Centre, has officially\u00a0moved\u00a0to her new home at Assiniboine Park Zoo, where she will live permanently.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A\u00a0purr-manent\u00a0home\u00a0<\/p>\n
Zoe Nakata, executive director at Wildlife Haven, says Lumi arrived at their facility last August after a traumatic start to life.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe came in after her mother was killed and she had also been injured in a dog attack,\u201d Nakata says.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were lots of complications along the way \u2014 an injured eye\u00a0and\u00a0seizures that were diagnosed\u00a0to\u00a0epilepsy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Due to those health challenges, Lumi was deemed non-releasable, meaning she would not be able to survive in the wild.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen an animal is non-releasable and we know\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0going to be in human care for the rest of their life, we allow ourselves to become a bit more attached,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0says.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s\u00a0what happened\u00a0with\u00a0Lumi as soon as we knew she\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0survive in the wild. Then we, as a team, named her and\u00a0started\u00a0making sure she was comfortable with humans.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
After months of rehabilitation, Wildlife Haven worked with Assiniboine\u00a0Park\u00a0Zoo to find Lumi a forever home.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve\u00a0been working with\u00a0Assiniboine\u00a0Zoo for many years.\u00a0They\u2019re\u00a0accredited and concentrate on conservation initiatives,\u201d says Nakata.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Best friends fur-ever\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lumi\u2019s move to Winnipeg came with a unique\u00a0send-off.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Manitoba Premier\u00a0Wab\u00a0Kinew, who had previously visited Lumi, drove her to her new home.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe really connected with her.\u00a0We loaded Lumi up into her crate in the Premier\u2019s car and drove her all the way to the zoo.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
While the move was emotional for staff, Nakata describes it as more of a \u201csee you later\u201d than a goodbye.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re still going to\u00a0be visiting with\u00a0her. But the hospital feels a little bit empty without her,\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0for sure,\u201d Nakata says.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lumi is currently in quarantine and undergoing further assessments, meaning it may take some time before the public can see her at the zoo.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Related Stories:<\/p>\n
Baby shower<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Wildlife Haven is preparing for its busiest season.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Spring in Manitoba is an eventful time when animals return, wake from\u00a0hibernation\u00a0or give birth.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a lot\u00a0happening in nature and,\u00a0unfortunately, that means we get busier with animals that are orphaned, sick or injured and need our help.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n