The “cat distribution system” has claimed a new member: The Oregon Zoo.
After wandering in southwest Washington last month, two cougar cub littermates — a male and female — were scooped up by the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Staff determined the pair would not have survived on their own in the wild, having been presumably orphaned by their mom. They were rescued and have now found a new home at the Oregon Zoo in Portland.
“We’re so happy we can provide a home for these cubs,” Jen Osburn Eliot, who oversees the zoo’s Great Northwest area, said in a statement.
“We wish they could’ve grown up with their mom, but since that’s not possible we’ll be doing everything we can for them. They’re still shy with people, so we’re giving them time to adjust and explore their new home.”
The zoo’s veterinary medical center estimates that the siblings are about four months old, both weighing in at about 20 pounds, though the male is slightly larger.
After settling in and continuing to be monitored by the care team at the zoo, the pair will eventually move into the cougar habitat in the zoo’s Great Northwest area.
In fact, the last resident of the zoo’s cougar habitat was also orphaned in the wild, Paiute, who was re-homed there in 2010. According to the zoo, he lived a “long life in Oregon,” and passed away earlier this year at the age of 15.
Cougars are also referred to as mountain lions, pumas, catamounts, and panthers. While the big cats are not listed as endangered (with the exception of Florida’s panthers), they do face many risks as a result of human behavior and habitat destruction.
For instance, one of the most famous cases of this is P-22, a beloved mountain lion who was killed in the Los Angeles area in a traffic collision.
His death, along with many others in the area, sparked wildlife activists, private donors, and government agencies to take action, leading to the construction of the world’s largest wildlife crossing, slated to be completed by early 2026.
Though it is not clear how the new residents at the Oregon Zoo were orphaned, human encroachment on wildlife impacts big cats in a myriad of ways, from habitat loss and competition for limited resources, and injury and death to wild animals.
This leaves cubs in need of rescue.
Fortunately, the Oregon Zoo is home to many animals found orphaned or injured in the wild, dubbed “second chance” residents. From sea otters to black bears, they serve as ambassadors for their species, educating visitors and raising awareness on behalf of their wildlife counterparts.
But for now, the new cubs aren’t on the PR circuit, but rather getting acquainted with their adoptive home.
“The cubs aren’t ready to venture out yet, but we’re getting the habitat prepared for a lot of activity once they are,” Osburn Eliot said.
“In the wild, cougar cubs stay with their moms for at least a year, so we’re giving these two all the time they need to feel safe and comfortable in their new home.”
Based on their social media launch, the brother and sister cubs will have no trouble fitting in. Under a video of the pair exploring their new habitat, comments poured in, offering a warm welcome of “pspspsps” from all their new fans watching from home.
Header image courtesy of the Oregon Zoo
