Two Orphaned Cougar Kittens Find Temporary Home at Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo

Over the weekend, two young orphaned cougars were taken in by the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo. The cougar kittens, estimated to be about five to six months old, will stay temporarily with the animal care, health, and welfare team at the zoo until a permanent home at another facility in Canada is determined.

The zoo emphasized that the cubs would not have survived on their own without the care of their mother. Thanks to a strong partnership with Alberta Fish and Wildlife, the zoo was able to step in and provide the cubs with a second chance at life.

While in the care of the zoo, the kittens are receiving exceptional care and lots of love. However, they will not be viewable to the public during their stay.

Professional wildlife photographer John E. Marriott, who reported seeing the two cubs wandering on their own to Fish and Wildlife, expressed relief upon learning that the zoo would be taking care of the animals. Marriott described his emotions as a “little bit of an emotional roller-coaster” knowing that the cougars would never be in the Canmore wilderness again.

Last week, Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services (FWES) received reports of two young cougars spotted alone near Canmore. The ministry of forestry and parks in Alberta confirmed that the two cougars were captured on Friday evening.

FWES also disclosed that the female cougar was legally killed in the Canmore area as part of a regulated hunt. This information sheds light on the challenges faced by wildlife and the importance of conservation efforts to protect endangered species like cougars.