Oakland Zoo helps rescue orphaned mountain lion cubs after mom fatally struck
OAKLAND, Calif. - Three orphaned mountain lion cubs were brought to the Oakland Zoo for rehabilitation and care after their mother was believed to have been fatally struck by a car.
Found wandering
What we know:
The cubs, recently named Fern, Thistle, and Spruce, were found in San Mateo County's Portola Valley. They were located not far from where their mother was struck, according to the Oakland Zoo.
Several people saw the mother after she was hit, though her remains have disappeared from the area, the zoo said.
Portola Valley residents had spotted the cubs wandering in the neighborhood, and they were later found hiding under a car.
Without a trace
What they're saying:
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife monitored for any signs of the cubs' mother over the past few weeks and found none, leading them to believe she was dead.
The 3-month-old cubs were rescued and taken to the Oakland Zoo's veterinary hospital for care. Once they are healthy, they'll be transferred to a new zoo where they will grow up.
The Source: Information for this story comes from the Oakland Zoo