2 NorCal Mountain Lions Thriving At Living Desert Zoo And Gardens

PALM DESERT, CA — Riverside County's favorite mountain lions, Rose and Sage, are settled in and thriving at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens after a challenging start one year ago.

The young cubs were found separately in Northern California in 2022, both in dire circumstances. They were not biologically related but bonded at the Oakland Zoo Veterinary Hospital. According to Oakland Zoo spokesperson Isabella Linares, they were separated from their mothers too soon.

"Rose was found first and was malnourished on the side of the road," a spokesperson for The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens told Patch in 2022. The young female mountain lion weighed just 8.8 pounds when she arrived.

Read more: Young Mountain Lions Headed To Palm Desert's Living Desert Zoo.

Sage was found in a precarious spot two months later, under a teacher's desk at a NorCal high school classroom in San Mateo County.He was dehydrated, malnourished, and required months of specialized care.

Both mountain lions were brought to the Oakland Zoo for care until they were strong enough to be transported to their permanent home in Palm Desert. Once they became comfortable, Rose and Sage were introduced into the mountain lion habitat in Eagle Canyon.

One year later, they are thriving, according to the zoo's Animal Care Curator Heather Down. Rose has grown to 88 pounds, and Sage is a massive 93 pounds.

They both participate in their health care checks, allowing themselves to be weighed voluntarily and accept their vaccines, given by a team of dedicated animal care keepers and veterinary staff at the zoo.

"Rose is particularly drawn to items that roll, wobble, and can be pounced upon and engages with any enriching experiences that include stinky or smelly elements."

"Over the past several months, Sage's confidence has reached new heights — quite literally," Down said. "Much like a mountain lion would in their natural habitat, you'll often find Sage surveying his surroundings from a perch 10 feet above the ground."

"Rose, in recent months, has started to join Sage on the perch," Down said, but when she's on the ground, Rose is eager to explore and play." It isn't known if the two

"They both have fans who tune in to see them over Instagram from all over the world," she said.

Read more about their arrival:

Young Mountain Lions Headed To Palm Desert's Living Desert Zoo

Mountain Lion Trapped In Classroom At CA High School