10/08/2026
Crimson is ready to leap into his next chapter!
We’ve found a forever home for Crimson at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge 🫶
For those who may not know his story, Crimson was just 3 weeks old when the National Park Service biologists and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife determined he had been abandoned. Using GPS collar data from his mother and camera monitoring, it was confirmed that she had moved to a different den site and was no longer returning to care for him. Crimson was also suffering from a hind foot injury that likely would have been life-threatening in the wild.
After receiving acute veterinary care at the Los Angeles Zoo, Crimson was transported via Flying Tails animal air ambulance service to Oakland Zoo, where our Veterinary Hospital team provided specialized care and ultimately amputated the affected limb. Since then, Crimson has made an incredible recovery, adapting to life on three legs and is growing into a healthy young mountain lion. 🥹
Because Crimson is too young to be a candidate for rehabilitation and release, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife selected Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge as Crimson's permanent home. In the coming weeks, he'll make the journey to this sanctuary, accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, where he'll continue to have plenty of enrichment, diligent veterinary care, and the opportunity to grow and thrive for years to come.
A huge thank you to the National Park Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Los Angeles Zoo, Flying Tails, our Veterinary Hospital and Animal Care staff, and Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge for working together to give Crimson a second chance at life.
Safe travels, Crimson! We’ll share an update in the coming weeks when he has settled into his new home.
📸: Zoological Manager Angela
