A pair of baby cougars has added to the diverse animal lineup at the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Garden in Sanford.
The 10-week-old male and female siblings arrived at the zoo from South Dakota after being found without their mother at just a few weeks old. They were determined to be too young to be released back into the wild, so a zoo was contacted to care for them and provide them with a permanent home.
They have already “won the hearts and minds” of the zoo’s animal care team, according to a news release.
“Our animal care team is providing them with the professional attention they need, and we look forward to seeing them reach new milestones,” zoo CEO Richard Glover said in a news release. “They are curious, playful, and growing rapidly. Their story is a powerful reminder of the role accredited zoos play in the care and education of animals.”
Currently, each baby weighs between 9 and 12 pounds and is growing at a rate of 0.5 pounds per day as they grow and explore their surroundings.
As part of normal animal care procedures, the cub will be quarantined for at least 30 days. Zoo veterinarians and staff closely monitor the cubs, observing behaviors such as small climbs, scratching on the ground, and calling to each other when startled. These natural behaviors are important indicators of healthy development.
Native to North, Central, and South America, cougars are one of the continent’s largest wild cats and are known for their agility, strength, and adaptability.
Visitors will be able to see the babies and learn more about them when they are ready to open to the public later this year. The cougar has not yet been given an official name.
Meanwhile, the zoo continues to care for sloths rescued from the abandoned Sloth World attraction and donated in April.
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