Abandoned Southern California mountain lion cub with amputated leg finds new homeJohn Ross Ferrara Sun, October 11, 2026 at 4:10 AM UTC
An injured mountain lion cub that was found abandoned in Southern California earlier this year and underwent a potentially life-saving leg amputation has found a permanent home, the Oakland Zoo announced. The injured cub, named Crimson, was missing several toes on an injured hind paw. Because of his age and permanent injury, wildlife officials determined […]
An injured mountain lion cub that was found abandoned in Southern California earlier this year and underwent a potentially life-saving leg amputation has found a permanent home, the Oakland Zoo announced.
The injured cub, named Crimson, was missing several toes on an injured hind paw. Because of his age and permanent injury, wildlife officials determined Crimson could not be released back into the wild.
“For those who may not know his story, Crimson was just 3 weeks old when the National Park Service biologists and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife determined he had been abandoned,” the Oakland Zoo said. “Using GPS collar data from his mother and camera monitoring, it was confirmed that she had moved to a different den site and was no longer returning to care for him.”
Rescued mountain lion kitten Crimson receives specialized care after being found orphaned in Southern California. (Oakland Zoo)
Rescued mountain lion kitten Crimson receives specialized care after being found orphaned in Southern California. (Oakland Zoo)
Rescued mountain lion kitten Crimson receives specialized care after being found orphaned in Southern California. (Oakland Zoo)
Rescued mountain lion kitten Crimson receives specialized care after being found orphaned in Southern California. (Oakland Zoo)
Rescued mountain lion kitten Crimson receives specialized care after being found orphaned in Southern California. (Oakland Zoo)
Rescued mountain lion kitten Crimson receives specialized care after being found orphaned in Southern California. (Oakland Zoo)
Crimson was initially treated for his injuries by vets at the Los Angeles Zoo. He was then flown to the Oakland Zoo, where veterinarians amputated his leg. Since then, he's made an “incredible” recovery and is adapting to life on three legs, zoo officials said.
The CDFW has selected Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Eureka Springs, Ark. as Crimson's new home. Turpentine Creek is a 460-acre ranch in the Ozark hills that focuses on rescuing big cats and bears from the exotic-animal trade.
Rescued mountain lion cub Crimson shows playful behavior after recovering from a leg amputation. (Oakland Zoo)
Rescued mountain lion cub Crimson shows playful behavior after recovering from a leg amputation. (Oakland Zoo)
“In the coming weeks, he'll make the journey to this sanctuary, accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, where he'll continue to have plenty of enrichment, diligent veterinary care, and the opportunity to grow and thrive for years to come,” the Oakland Zoo said. “Safe travels, Crimson! We’ll share an update in the coming weeks when he has settled into his new home.”
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Source: Nature
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