Oatland Island Wildlife Center in Savannah welcomes two cougar cubs, on exhibit starting Feb. 22; fundraiser to help name the cubs
Oatland Island Wildlife Center in Savannah welcomes two cougar cubs to the wildlife center.
Oatland Island is thrilled to announce that both cougar cubs will be on public viewing at the Cougar Crossing exhibit starting on Tues. Feb. 22 2022, at 10AM. They are currently not named, and Oatland, in conjunction with Friends of Oatland Island (FOO), is holding a special fundraiser to help name them.
For a donation of $5 at the Friends of Oatland website, two names may be submitted for consideration. Enter your name picks here.
Update: ‘Baby Shower’ for two new cougar cubs @ Oatland Island Wildlife Center’s Cougar Crossing, 10AM Sun. March 6 2022. Around 11AM cake & punch will be served (until supplies last). A naming station will be available. For a $5 donation, visitors can submit two names for consideration. For a $50 adoption fee, you will receive a baby cougar stuffie, a certificate of adoption, a fact sheet about cougars.
It’s been a year since Oatland’s beloved cougar Shanti died.
In the fall of 2021, four cougar kittens were found in a backyard in Washington state. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife attempted to relocate the kittens and their mom, but the mother abandoned them.
After two days waiting for the mother to return, WDFW, in cooperation with the Oregon Zoo and the Memphis Zoo, intervened to retrieve the kittens, three boys and one girl. When a cougar, also known as a puma or mountain lion, is found orphaned or injured in the wild, a volunteer coordinator with the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) Puma Monitoring Program is contacted to help place the cub at an appropriate facility to care for them. These cubs were designated to be placed in the care of the Memphis Zoo.
Knowing the kittens would need around-the-clock care for feedings and playtime; and quick transport from Seattle to Memphis, FedEx offered to assist as a part of the company’s FedEx Cares “Delivering for Good” initiative.
Shortly after their arrival in Memphis, Oatland Island Wildlife Center’s Veterinarian, Dr. Lesley Mailler, received the call. She says, “The zoological community knew that we had lost our cougar due to illness in 2020 and that we had the facilities for a cougar on standby. They asked if we were interested in taking one of the brothers and the sister. I replied, ‘Of course we would!’ We have missed having Shanti and are excited to see life brought back to the Cougar Crossing exhibit again.”
After OIWC was contacted in November 2021, permits were filed to receive the two cubs. As soon as the permits were authorized, two Oatland staff members drove to Memphis to meet all four cubs and the amazing team that had been taking care of them. The new additions arrived safely to Oatland Island Wildlife Center on Dece. 16, 2021. Oatland would like to thank Karen Meeks of White Oak Conservation for helping to facilitate the acquisition.
While in quarantine, which is required of all new Oatland residents, they explored their surroundings and were very inquisitive of the staff and their new surroundings. They love to play with plushy toys and ropes and climb on top of their crate and logs within their enclosure.
Two months after their arrival, the cub’s blue eyes are nearly gone, and their spots are fading. The animal care staff at Oatland have come to know their personalities very well and describe the little girl as the leader. She is very confident, independent, inquisitive, and is always chattering and purring to the staff. The little boy is shy and much more reserved. He takes his time in making decisions and is a bit wary of any change or new thing, but he loves to play with his sister.
Please join all the staff at Oatland Island Wildlife Center in welcoming these new additions.
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Oatland Island Wildlife Center
711 Sandtown Road
Savannah, GA 31410
(912) 395-1212
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Friends of Oatland is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser
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