Two orphaned mountain lion cubs found huddled under a car in California have more than doubled in size since arriving at the Phoenix Zoo ten weeks ago.
Fern and Thistle were malnourished and frightened when they were found. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Peninsula Open Space Trust rescued them, and they got emergency care at the Oakland Zoo before moving to Phoenix.
Settling into Big Cats of Arizona
The cubs now live in the zoo’s Big Cats of Arizona habitat, which has natural rock features, shaded dens and room to explore. They are not on public view yet, and are spending their time in the side yard and night house while they get used to the place.
Their personalities have started to separate. Senior keeper of carnivores Ryan Griffith describes Thistle as the bold one, quick to engage with enrichment and happy to approach keepers, particularly when food is involved. Fern is more cautious and tends to watch from a distance, though Griffith suspects she is every bit as playful when staff are not around.
Whether they are curled up together or lying apart, the two stay attentive to each other. The zoo credits that sibling bond, along with the care they received, for getting them through a rough start.
