A young mountain lion named Crimson is enjoying a fresh start at an Arkansas sanctuary after an injury left him with just three legs.
The cub bounds toward the person filming in a video, emerging after a peek from behind a hay-filled crate.
Here's what to know
The finding that Crimson had been abandoned came from biologists with two agencies: California's Department of Fish and Wildlife and the National Park Service. He was just three weeks old at the time, according to Popular Science.
"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," Emily McCormack, a curator caring for animals at northwest Arkansas's Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, told the outlet.
Treatment was critical to Crimson's survival because an injury to his hind foot could have proved fatal.
More background
Crimson's rescue brought together veterinary teams at two California zoos and an animal air ambulance service. The Los Angeles Zoo provided his initial acute veterinary care. Flying Tails then transported him to the Oakland Zoo, where veterinarians later removed the damaged leg, according to Popular Science.
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A return to the wild was not an option for Crimson: Despite his exceptional recovery, his young age ruled out rehabilitation for release.
No other cat species has a range as broad as that of the mountain lion, according to Popular Science. Also called cougars or pumas, these cats inhabit many parts of the Americas.
What's being done?
Accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge became Crimson's permanent home through a decision by California wildlife officials.
The refuge staff chose an enclosure based on room to move and suitability for Crimson's mobility. "He is thriving in his new habitat at our sanctuary. We chose a long habitat enclosure with relatively flat ground, where he can explore but also has the ability to fully run a good distance," McCormack told Popular Science.
Platforms at different heights share Crimson's habitat with a ball dangling from a rope, as the video shows.
"Crimson loves his neighbors, especially a female lion named Lucy. He loves his meal times and can be heard chirping all day to the staff, interns, and guests," McCormack said.
Where can I learn more?
Crimson's recovery is one example of how specialized care can help seriously injured animals. These stories follow foxes regaining mobility, cats receiving lifesaving help, and a wild feline facing conservation threats.
• A U.K. fox with paralyzed front legs regained mobility and sprinted back into the wild.
• The jaguarundi, found from Mexico to Argentina, is now listed as near threatened.
• A California sanctuary's black jaguar needed emergency care after two rattlesnake bites.
• A Canadian wildfire rescue cat with burned paws and singed whiskers found a family through Instagram.
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