The California Department of Fish and Wildlife relocated two adult male mountain lions that had previously been preying on bighorn sheep in the Sierra Nevada. The cats, identified as l.147 and l.176, had been transported to an area east of the Mojave Desert in the Mescal Range.
Officials stated the cats would have prey at that location and could catch mule deer according to a report on bighorn sheep recovery efforts.
It was hoped that rehoming the mountain lions to the Mojave Desert would prevent them from returning to their territory and therefore establish new areas when they could expand into the southeast for prey. Unfortunately, the cats tried to return home to the Sierra Nevada and tried to cross the desert in 210 mile journey taking “a straight line northwest towards” their home.
One of the mountain lions was found dead, and the other found a few months later was barely alive, but had been so emaciated, veterinarians decided it best to humanely euthanize him.
It has since been decided not to move anymore mountain lions to the desert again and that the department would learn from their mistakes.
it is never easy and it is certainly not perfect. We regret that these lions died in this manner, and we will LEarn from it … Future translocations will benefit from many lessons learned in these cases.
Jordan Traverso spokesperson
Until 2017, authorities would kill mountain lions in order to protect the dwindling population of bighorn sheep. It was hoped this would have been a viable solution to preserve more wildlife.
Guessing not!
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Disgusting incompetence!!! If a private citizen did this to any animal, they would be in jail for animal cruelty. These inept, inhumane government officials should be punished for their actions. Tgey should be held to the same standards as we, the people, are held to for humane animal treatment.
These lions deserved much better than this cruel death. It would be “fair” to terminate these officials and ban them from ever working with animals in the future.
Problematic animals should be sent to sanctuaries or educational centers so that they can live out their lives and teach future generations.
Disgusting incompetence!!! If a private citizen did this to any animal, they would be in jail for animal cruelty. These inept, inhumane government officials should be punished for their actions. They should be held to the same standards as we, the people, are held to for humane animal treatment.
These lions deserved much better than this cruel death. It would be “fair” to terminate these officials and ban them from ever working with animals in the future.
Problematic animals should be sent to sanctuaries or educational centers so that they can live out their lives and teach future generations.
TRAGIC—THEY OBVIOUSLY NEED A BETTER SOLUTION …