(KRON) — A mountain lion cub found severely emaciated and infested with ticks was rescued last week in Northern California, the Oakland Zoo announced. One week later, the cub, Clover, has undergone a blood transfusion and intensive care and remains in critical condition.
Clover, who experts estimate is about 3 months old, was spotted near a road in El Dorado County and weighed less than half of her ideal weight. According to the zoo, quick intervention was needed due to her critically fragile state and she was rescued by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife on March 6.
After being admitted to the Oakland Zoo Veterinary Hospital, Clover has received around-the-clock intensive care, officials said. Her condition worsened on Monday, and a blood transfusion was administered using blood from Briar, a mountain lion that was rescued in August 2024.
“Although Clover is doing better today after 24 hours of care, she remains in critical condition and will be closely monitored by Oakland Zoo’s Veterinary and Animal Care staff,” the zoo wrote Friday.
Zoo officials said they are unsure what happened to Clover’s mother, but it was clear that the cub had not been cared for in some time. Mountain lions in the wild need two years with their mothers to learn survival skills. Due to Clover’s age, she will not be released back into the wild, according to the zoo…