Mountain Lion Cub Rescued by Oakland Zoo Is Too Precious to Be Scary
Running into a mountain lion in the streets of Oakland, Calif., can be a scary interaction-but a lost mountain lion cub is another thing entirely.
Thankfully, the good folks at Oakland Zoo were able to rescue one lost cub, and the video of this poor, hungry creature getting the love, attention and food it so desperately needed is so heartwarming, it makes mountain lions seem like cuddly little kitties.
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The cub in question was only about three weeks old when it came into the care of thoughtful Oakland Zoo staffers.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/VMdakEo7S1s
"I know, you're starving," the staff member says as she gently cradles the cub out of its transportation cage. "Yeah, you're suckling."
The cub immediately started pulling at her arm with its mouth, a way of signaling their hunger.
"So we're letting him kind of tell me," the staff member says as she bottle feeds the tender cub. "He's tugging, versus me shoving it down."
We watch as the baby animal gets its claws clipped and is rubbed down with loving pets.
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How Many Mountain Lions Are There in the Bay Area?
"Oakland Zoo's newest addition - Crimson, a 3-week-old male mountain lion cub - was rescued last Friday after being orphaned in Southern California," the video's caption reads.
"National Park Service staff and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife first brought Crimson to the Los Angeles Zoo in late March before he was flown to Oakland Zoo," the caption continues. "Health exams at both zoos have been positive, with veterinary and animal care staff closely monitoring his foot after he lost several toes in the wild."
Crimson marks the Oakland Zoo's 33rd mountain lion rescue, and the staff there have found these cubs can really thrive when given companionship. Once he's been rehabilitated, Crimson will be paired with Clover, a female cub rescued back in March, and the ultimate goal is to reintegrate Crimson and Clover into the wild.
Research estimates that there are about 50 to 80 adult mountain lions in the Santa Cruz Mountains, making it the densest urban population of the species in the San Francisco Bay Area.
These mountain lions are considered threatened under the California Endangered Species Act, primarily due to habitat encroachment, inbreeding and vehicle traffic.
Who knows what happened to Crimson's mother, but we're very glad to see the cub get the care and attention it deserves. Now, Crimson and his new friend Clover stand a chance at life!
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This story was originally published April 14, 2026 at 6:05 PM.