The Living Desert Zoo in Palm Desert California has recently taken in two new members. Two juvenile mountain lions traveled from the Oakland Zoo Hospital to Living desert at the end of September. Their names are Rose and Sage.

The focus of the Living Desert Zoo is to keep the young mountain lions together and get them accustomed to their new surroundings and help them build a bond and relationship with their new animal care team. They will begin their life at the Living Desert Zoo behind the scenes and once they are comfortable they will be introduced into the mountain lion habitat in Eagle Canyon.

These young mountain lions were brought into the Oakland Zoo Hospital a few months apart from each other and their exact age is unknown. Sage is a male mountain lion that was rescued just a few months ago back in June 2022. Sage was found inside Pescadero High School in a classroom underneath a teacher's desk at the Northern California campus. He was found underweight and anemic with a fractured tooth and covered in ticks. He is estimated to be about 9 to 11 months old.

Rose is estimated to be a little bit younger than Sage and was found in much more concerning shape than Sage according to those who worked with her at the Oakland hospital. Rose was found by hikers in Thornwood Open Space Preserve in San Mateo. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife picked her up and brought her to the Oakland Zoo in April. Rose was considered to be orphaned and she was emaciated and malnourished when she was found. Hospital keepers at the Oakland Zoo gave her the most in critical veterinary care and today Rose is healthy and thriving. They estimate that Rose is about 9 to 10 months old.

This pair of young mountain lions are not biologically related but did quickly bond with one another during their time at the Oakland Zoo Veterinary Hospital. Both of the cubs were separated from their mothers before it was time. Veterinarians at the Oakland Zoo determined Rose would not have survived on her own without human intervention. Sage who was also found in a school was deemed in need of human intervention and medical care.

The pair is being moved to the Living Desert so that they can stay together and continue to thrive as they grow. The Living Desert is an accredited zoo by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums the animal staff in Palm Desert are excited to have that you have an old pair and anticipate their growth and thriving at the living desert.

They will “join” Salem who already lives at the zoo in the mountain lion habitat that is known as Eagle Mountain. Salem is 18 years old and one of the oldest mountain lions in human care. Salem is well-loved at the zoo as she engages with guests at the habitat window and loves to train with her care team. Though the juveniles will be part of the mountain lion exhibit they will not be directly paired with Salem. Guests will be able to spectate either Salem or the young mountain lion pair at the exhibit at separate times.

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