Wildlife Rescue Archives - Animal Fact Guide

Oakland Zoo Welcomes New Tiger Rescue

Posted on September 1, 2026 by admin

Oakland Zoo welcomed a new female tiger named Sitara in July! Photo by Oakland Zoo.

Oakland Zoo in California welcomed a new female tiger in July! The new addition is named Sitara, which is Hindu for “star”.

Sitara was one of five tigers rescued by the zoo. These tigers were abandoned at a private facility, and they all had physical ailments like blindness, arthritis, or spinal disease.

Sitara was one of five tigers transferred to the Oakland Zoo for treatment. Photo by Oakland Zoo.

One of the tigers, seen here, was a white tiger who suffered from blindness. She was transferred to Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge as her forever home after she was treated. Photo by Oakland Zoo.

Oakland Zoo vets treated the tigers, then three of the tigers were transferred to other facilities for lifelong care. One of the tigers had health issues that were too extreme and had to be euthanized.

Sitara will stay on at Oakland Zoo as her permanent home. The Animal Care staff is training her so she learns how to navigate pools, a waterfall, raised platforms, grass, and vegetation in her new habitat. These are all features she’s never experienced before!

Sitara is adjusting to her new habitat at Oakland Zoo. Animal Care staff is training her how to navigate new features like pools and waterfalls. Photo by Oakland Zoo.

Photo by Oakland Zoo.

For thirty years, Oakland Zoo has rescued big cats who have been impacted by private ownership and the commercial wildlife trade. They work with government agencies and other accredited organizations to provide care and forever homes to big cats who have been mistreated.

To learn more and to support Oakland Zoo’s efforts, see their website.

For more information about tigers, see our article, Siberian Tiger.

Rescued Manatee Returned to the Wild

Posted on August 19, 2026 by admin

Ralston, a rescued manatee, returned home to the Halifax River in Florida in August. Photo by SeaWorld Orlando.

After months of rehabilitation, SeaWorld Orlando recently released Ralston, a Florida manatee, back to the wild!

Ralston was brought to SeaWorld Orlando by Florida Fish and Wildlife Service after he got severely injured by a crab trap. His left pectoral flipper had to be amputated, but with daily care from SeaWorld’s Animal Team, his health recovered, and he was ready to go back home.

Ralston was transported by van to the Halifax River in Florida, where his rescue was originally made.

Using a crane, the Animal Team was able to lift Ralston into the van gently. Photo by SeaWorld Orlando.

Ralston was transported by van back to the Halifax River, where he was found. Photo by SeaWorld Orlando.

After months of rehabilitation, Ralston was ready to return to the wild! SeaWorld vets microchipped him so if he finds himself at another rescue facility in the future, the vets there will be able to access all of his veterinary history and information. Photo by SeaWorld Orlando.

To learn more, see the SeaWorld Orlando website.

For more information about manatees, see our article, West Indian Manatee.

Oakland Zoo Cares for Rescued Mountain Lion Kitten

Posted on May 4, 2026 by admin

Crimson, an orphaned three-week-old mountain lion kitten, is under the care of Oakland Zoo Veterinary Hospital. Photo credit: Oakland Zoo.

Oakland Zoo took in a three-week-old mountain lion kitten, who was orphaned in southern California.

The baby mountain lion (or cougar), is named Crimson. Oakland Zoo Hospital staff is bottle-feeding him every three hours. He came into the zoo’s care with missing toes on his foot, so the animal care team is monitoring him to make sure he’s using his leg and foot properly.

Crimson is being bottle-fed by Oakland Zoo animal care staff every three hours. Photo credit: Oakland Zoo.

In the wild, mountain lion cubs need about 12-18 months with their mother to learn essential survival skills. Because Crimson is so young, he lacks the skills necessary to survive in the wild.

After he rehabilitates at the Veterinary Hospital, the zoo hopes to introduce Crimson to Clover, the female cub rescued by Oakland Zoo earlier this year. Mountain lion kittens tend to thrive with a companion. The zoo has used this strategy successfully with other rescues.

When Crimson successfully rehabilitates, he will be introduced to Clover, another rescued mountain lion cub being cared for by Oakland Zoo. Photo credit: Oakland Zoo.

Crimson is doing well, but he is at a delicate stage, and veterinary staff will monitor him closely as he grows. Photo credit: Oakland Zoo.

If you would like to support Oakland Zoo and their mountain lion rescue efforts, you can donate at their website.

To learn more about mountain lions, see our article: Cougar.

Oakland Zoo Rescues Female Mountain Lion Cub

Posted on March 30, 2026 by admin

Clover, the female mountain lion cub rescued by Oakland Zoo

Oakland Zoo helped rescue a 3-month-old female cougar cub earlier this month. Photo credit: Oakland Zoo.

Earlier this month, Oakland Zoo in California helped rescue a female mountain lion (or cougar) cub. She was found emaciated and wandering near a road. She is about three months old, based on her coloration and tooth development.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) performed initial veterinary exams on the cub and found her to be severely underweight, weighing less than half her ideal weight, and covered in ticks. They treated her for dehydration and tick infestation.

Clover received around-the-clock care at Oakland Zoo Veterinary Hospital. Photo credit: Oakland Zoo.

The cub, now named Clover, was then transferred to Oakland Zoo Veterinary Hospital. After further evaluation, zoo vets determined that Clover was in critical condition.

She received around-the-clock intensive care in the hospital’s ICU, including a blood transfusion using blood donated from a resident cougar at the zoo named Briar.

Briar, a resident cougar at Oakland Zoo, donated blood for Clover’s blood transfusion. Photo credit: Oakland Zoo.

Clover received a life-saving blood transfusion at Oakland Zoo Veterinary Hospital. Photo credit: Oakland Zoo.

Clover is doing better after receiving veterinary care, but zoo vets will monitor her closely. Photo credit: Oakland Zoo.

Although Clover is doing better, she is still being closely monitored by zoo veterinarians.

If you would like to help support Oakland Zoo and its Mountain Lion Rescue and Recovery Program, you can make a donation to Oakland Zoo online at www.oaklandzoo.org/give.

To learn more about mountain lions, see our article, Cougar.

Stowie the Hitchhiking Quoll Returned Home

Posted on March 23, 2026 by admin

Stowie, a northern quoll, accidentally hitchhiked 2,400 km with a family to Dubbo, Australia. Photo credit: Jodie Lardner Smith, Taronga Western Plains Zoo.

In December 2025, a family took a road trip from their home in northern Queensland to Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia. But little did they know, there was another passenger joining them for the trip: a northern quoll!

Northern quolls are carnivorous marsupials that live in northern Australia. They are considered endangered by the IUCN Red List.

Hitchhiking Quoll

The Lyons family–Dan, his wife Peta, kids Aleisha, 22 and Jack, 20, and Smudge the cattle dog–had driven 2,400 km (1,500 mi.) with the stowaway quoll in the back of the car.

The Lyons family: Aleisha, Dan, Peta, Jack, and Smudge the cattle dog. Photo courtesy: Taronga Western Plains Zoo.

“Smudge was trying to get into the back with the luggage, but we still didn’t pick up that there was something in there and because it was raining so heavily, we just kept driving through the night until we got to Dubbo,” said Dan.

When Dan’s daughter Aleisha went to get her bag out of the car, she said, “Oh, there’s a quoll in here!”

Capturing the Quoll

The family called Taronga Western Plains Zoo for help. But it was harder than they thought to get the quoll out of the car. Instead of jumping out the back, the quoll scurried into the lining of the car. The zoo gave the family a trap and food to catch the quoll. But the quoll kept escaping the trap!

Finally, with some modifications to the trap, the family captured the stowaway quoll the next morning.

Stowie the northern quoll was captured from the Lyons’s car and brought to the Taronga Western Plains Zoo for care. Photo credit: Jodie Lardner Smith, Taronga Western Plains Zoo.

Providing Veterinary Care

Veterinarians at Taronga Wildlife Hospital performed health checks on the quoll, named Stowie. They determined he was in good health and about 4-5 months old.

“I think his journey was probably quite stressful for him, being in a very strange environment with people, but considering all of that he actually held up beautifully,” said Senior Veterinarian Dr. Alisa Wallace.

Stowie the northern quoll getting veterinary care at Taronga Wildlife Hospital.

Veterinarians at the Taronga Wildlife Hospital provided health checks and veterinary care to Stowie. Photo credit: Amy Bartlett, Taronga Western Plains Zoo.

Stowie proved to be a healthy eater, and after six weeks at the hospital, he had doubled his weight and was ready to be returned home.

Journey Home

Taronga’s veterinary team worked closely with Queensland Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation, and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to coordinate the logistics for his return.

The return trip consisted of two flights and a four-hour drive from Cairns. But finally, Stowie the quoll was released back into the wild near where he was found!

“We’re really glad that we’ve been able to help him get back to where he’s supposed to be and hopefully go and breed in the wild. He’s finally back out there where he’s meant to be,” said Dr. Wallace.

To learn more about the Taronga Western Plains Zoo, visit their website.

Lincoln Park Zoo Welcomes Two New Brown Bears

Posted on November 6, 2025 by admin

Two grizzly bears have arrived at Lincoln Park Zoo. It’s the first time in 46 years that the zoo has cared for brown bears. Photo credit: Cassy Kutilek / Lincoln Park Zoo.

For the first time since 1979, you can see brown bears at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. The zoo recently welcomed aunt-niece duo, Ash and Lexi.

These two grizzly bears are adult bears, though their exact age is unknown. They were born in the wild, but they were found raiding trash cans and becoming dependent on human food.

Grizzlies Lexi and Ash are making themselves at home at Lincoln Park Zoo. Photo credit: Lincoln Park Zoo.

For their safety and well-being, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks removed the brown bears from the wild. The bear pair lived at Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, Wisconsin before coming to the Lincoln Park Zoo.

“Ash and Lexi’s story is an inspiring one that reminds us of the important role accredited zoos can play in the lives of rescued animals that can’t return to the wild for their own safety,” said Lincoln Park Zoo Curator Cassy Kutilek.

Both bears have a playful personality. Photo credit: Lincoln Park Zoo

Brown bears enter a deep sleep in the winter months called torpor. Their breathing, heart rate, and metabolism slow down drastically in order to conserve energy.

Ash and Lexi, like their counterparts in the wild, will also enter into this deep sleep at the zoo. They will have long periods of inactivity starting in November. Though Ash and Lexi do have access to food at the zoo, it is important for them to engage in this natural behavior.

Photo credit: Lincoln Park Zoo

To learn more about Ash and Lexi, visit the Lincoln Park Zoo website.

For more info on brown bears, see our article, Grizzly Bear.

Baby Koala Receives Life-Saving Care at Taronga Wildlife Hospital

Posted on May 7, 2025 by admin

Koala joey at Taronga Western Plains Zoo

A koala joey named Hank received life-saving care at the Taronga Wildlife Hospital in Dubbo, Australia. Photo by Taronga Western Plains Zoo.

The Taronga Wildlife Hospital in Dubbo, Australia provided life-saving care to a sick koala joey, named Hank.

When Hank arrived at the hospital in January, he was dehydrated and lethargic. Veterinary staff provided 24-hour intensive care for weeks, giving him IV fluids, medication and a special milk diet. Now Hank is thriving.

Koala joey receiving veterinary care at Taronga Western Plains Zoo

Veterinary staff provided 24-hour intensive care for weeks to Hank. Photo by Taronga Western Plains Zoo.

Taronga Western Plains Zoo veterinary staff providing care to a sick koala joey.

The veterinary team gave Hank IV fluids, medication and a special milk diet when he first arrived into their care. Photo by Taronga Western Plains Zoo.

“After being in round-the-clock care the past few months, coming home with me at night and being at the Wildlife Hospital during the day, Hank has now been weaned and is adjusting to his leaf only diet,” said Taronga Western Plains Zoo’s Senior Veterinary Nurse, Jodie Lardner-Smith.

Hank is currently living at the wildlife hospital. But he will be introduced to other koalas in a rehabilitation enclosure so he can learn necessary koala life skills. This will prepare him for his eventual return to the wild.

Hank is now thriving thanks to the care he received at Taronga Wildlife Hospital. Photo by Rick Stevens.

Hank is one of the 700 sick, injured or orphaned native animals cared for by the Taronga Wildlife Hospital Dubbo every year. To help even more animals, Taronga is building another wildlife hospital in Sydney. Visit the Taronga website for more information.

To learn more about koalas, see our koala facts page.

SeaWorld Announces 1000th Manatee Rescue

Posted on March 26, 2025 by admin

Churro manatee rescued and released by SeaWorld

Churro, a young Florida manatee, is one of many success stories from SeaWorld Orlando as they celebrate 1000 manatee rescues! Photo by SeaWorld Orlando.

It’s Manatee Appreciation Day today, and SeaWorld Orlando has a great way to celebrate! They have reached a historic milestone – 1000 manatee rescues!

For nearly 50 years, SeaWorld has worked with federal, state and nonprofit organizations to rescue and rehabilitate injured or cold-stressed manatees and then release them back into the wild.

Recently, they successfully released a mother-daughter manatee pair named Reckless and Churro. In 2022, Reckless was struck by a boat and her shoulder was shattered. Her newborn, Churro, was only a couple days old at the time.

Reckless a manatee rehabilitated by SeaWorld

Mother manatee, Reckless, was severely injured after being struck by a boat in 2022. Photo by SeaWorld Orlando.

The SeaWorld veterinary team performed 12 lifesaving procedures and provided more than 17,000 hours of specialized care to ensure the pair could be successfully returned to their natural habitat.

Manatee Reckless underwent several surgeries

SeaWorld Orlando veterinary staff performed surgery on Reckless’s shoulder. Photo by SeaWorld Orlando.

SeaWorld using special equipment to transport the manatees back to the wild

After 20 months of intensive care, Reckless and Churro were fit to be released. SeaWorld used specialized equipment to transport the manatee pair back to the wild. Photo by SeaWorld Orlando.

SeaWorld staff measured Churro before releasing her back to her natural habitat with her mother. Photo by SeaWorld Orlando.

For more information about SeaWorld’s rehabilitation work, see their website.

To learn more about manatees, see our article, West Indian Manatee.

Orphaned Cougar Cubs at Oakland Zoo

Posted on February 7, 2025 by admin

Orphaned cougar cubs cared for by Oakland Zoo.

These cougar cubs were brought to Oakland Zoo for care after their mother had been struck by a car. Photo by Oakland Zoo.

Oakland Zoo in California is currently caring for three orphaned cougar (or mountain lion) cubs. The cubs were rescued by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) after it was determined that the cubs’ mother had been hit by a car.

Residents in Portola Valley, California spotted the cubs wandering around their neighborhood. CDFW used trail cameras and local security cameras to monitor the area and ensure that their mother was the one who had been struck by a car two weeks prior.

The cubs arrived at Oakland Zoo thin, but otherwise healthy, after living without their mother for two weeks. Photo by Oakland Zoo.

The three mountain lion cubs are now named Fern (female), Thistle (male), and Spruce (male). They are three months old, and when they arrived at the zoo, they were thin but otherwise healthy.

Photo by Oakland Zoo.

Oakland Zoo veterinary staff doing an exam on a cougar cub

Veterinary staff at Oakland Zoo conducted exams on the three cubs. Photo by Oakland Zoo.

The cubs will not be able to be released back to the wild because normally cubs spend two years with their mother learning survival and hunting skills. They will instead be placed in an appropriate institution after their rehabilitation at Oakland Zoo.

This rescue marks the 30th mountain lion rescue for Oakland Zoo.

To learn more about the rescued cubs, visit the Oakland Zoo website.

For more information about cougars, see our article, Cougar.