Rescued mountain lion cub gets new name inspired by the holidays

Santa Cruz, California - The Oakland Zoo is nursing an ill mountain lion cub, which was found without its mother, back to health, giving her a special name for the holiday season.

Holly the mountain lion isn't back on her paws yet, but she's getting lots of care.
Holly the mountain lion isn't back on her paws yet, but she's getting lots of care.  © screenshot/Twitter/ OaklandZoo

Wildlife officials in Northern California rescued a mountain lion cub in Santa Cruz on Monday.

According to the zoo's Twitter thread, a Santa Cruz resident spotted the sick baby animal on her property on Monday and alerted the state's Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The Associated Press reported that wildlife officials waited to see if the cub’s mother would return. When she didn't, they took the animal to the zoo for care.

Blind dog down on his luck finds well-deserved happy ending
Dogs Blind dog down on his luck finds well-deserved happy ending

On Tuesday, the Oakland Zoo veterinarians in intensive care said they'd named the cub Holly for the holiday season.

Holly the mountain lion in critical condition

The rescued cub is in critical condition. Vets at the Oakland zoo think Holly is is around three or four months old.

They've given her fluids, vitamins, and medication, but she's still not back on her paws.

On Twitter on Tuesday, they wrote, "Holly continues to receive intensive care. Her bloodwork improved slightly & she seems a bit brighter today, but still isn’t standing or moving too much. We are hopeful she continues to improve but are taking it very much day by day."

On Twitter, the zoo noted that they are dedicated to taking care of wild animals until they can be released back into the wild, but with very sick young ones like Holly, they focus on finding the animals other suitable homes when they are well.

Cover photo: screenshot/Twitter/ OaklandZoo

More on Animals: