A cougar cub abandoned in Idaho has moved to Boston so he can take up residence at the Stone Zoo. Currently he is living in the vet clinic at the Franklin Park Zoo so he can receive the care he requires.
Last week Pete Costello, Stone Zoo’s assistant curator made the trip to Idaho so he could pick the cub up. The male cub had been rescued by the Idaho department of fish and game. He was found abandoned in the wild and taken to a vet clinic. It was decided by the fish and game department that he should be taken back to where he was found in hopes his mother might find him. Unfortunately when they returned the next day he was still in the same place so they took him into care and began searching for a new home for the cubs.
The cub was named Blue and at the time of his rescue weighed 2.2kg (5lb). Stone Zoo decided to take on the care of the kitten and JetBlue generously stepped forward to fly him to his new home. The president and CEO of Zoo New England, John Linnehan said, “His journey to Boston is the result of a truly collaborative effort. We are incredibly grateful to JetBlue, whose team went above and beyond every step of the way in assuring a smooth travel experience. In honor of all of their support, the new kitten will be named Blue.”
Now he is at the zoo it will be a 24/7 effort to save the cub. Currently he needs bottle feeds once every 4-5 hours. The zoo’s skilled vets and keepers have thrown themselves into this challenge. Linnehan said, “Given the challenges he has faced in his first few weeks of life, we are thrilled to be able to provide a home for this kitten. Our staff prepared for his arrival and for the special care that this kitten will need during these early days. An ambassador for his species, our guests will have the unique opportunity to learn more about cougars as they watch him grow up.”
It is expecting that Blue will be ready for a debut at the Stone Zoo early next year. His discovery demonstrates the importance of keeping an eye out for abandoned wildlife so you can help save it. Dr Mark Drew, an Idaho Department of Fish and Game Wildlife Veterinarian said, “This late-season kitten emphasizes the need to be diligent about leaving wild babies alone. While the outcome is not what was hoped for, it is the best situation for the kitten under the circumstances.”
Photo Courtesy of Zoo New England/ Dayle Sullivan-Taylor
