Wildlife Blog

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.