- Title: Mountain lion dies in surgery after being shot by police in California
- Date: 27th August 2022
- Summary: OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (AUGUST 26, 2022) (Reuters) VETERINARIANS IN SURGERY ROOM AT OAKLAND ZOO
- Embargoed: 10th September 2022 01:17
- Keywords: California Hollister Oakland Zoo Oakland Zoo mountain lion mountain lion mountain lion shot mountain lion shot and killed
- Location: OAKLAND + SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
- City: OAKLAND + SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Environment,Nature/Wildlife,United States
- Reuters ID: LVA001097026082022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITOR'S NOTE: EDIT CONTAINS GRAPHIC MATERIAL
A young male mountain lion shot by police died in surgery at a California zoo on Friday afternoon (August 26), a zoo spokesperson said.
Veterinarians with the Oakland Zoo received the mountain lion at about 11:45 a.m. before examining it and preparing it for emergency surgery at its animal hospital, said Oakland Zoo spokesperson Erin Harrison.
A resident of Hollister, about 100 miles south of San Francisco, had spotted the mountain lion on their front porch and called police at about 4:42 a.m., according to a statement by the Hollister Police Department.
When police officers and wildlife officers with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife responded, the mountain lion was hiding in a bush.
The Fish and Wildlife officers attempted to tranquilize the animal, prompting the mountain lion to run out of the bush. That’s when police shot the mountain lion, officials said.
“The mountain lion charged from the bush directly towards a police officer stationed in an effort to keep it contained. Fearing for the life and safety of the officer, two officers fired their rifles at the mountain lion,†the police statement read.
“Ultimately, however, we could not place the life of the animal above human life, which is why the officers fired their rifles at the scene,†the statement later read.
The mountain lion then jumped a nearby fence into a side yard where it was tranquilized again. Once it was sedated, officers assessed the mountain lion and found a “pass-through bullet wound to its torso,†said Mike Perin, a public information officer with the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
“We did not consider the mountain lion to be a public safety threat. It had not acted aggressively. So our goal was to tranquilize the mountain lion so that we can assess it and so that we could leave open the possibility that we could return it to habitat," Perin said.
At the Oakland Zoo, veterinary staff examined the mountain lion in the radiology room, using the x-ray machine, taking blood samples, giving antibiotics and pain medicine to the mountain lion.
They also wrapped him in saran wrap to compress the wounds until surgery could begin.
Zoo officials estimated the mountain lion to be approximately one year old, weighing about 75 pounds.
“He's beautiful, in great condition, well fed, everything good. Probably just a young guy questing for turf, like they do at that age,†Dr. Alex Herman, vice president of veterinary services at the zoo, said.
Prior to surgery, Dr. Herman was optimistic but conceded the risk.
"A lot of animals die from injuries like this. We're also very capable and I'm an optimist so I'm hoping that we can save his life, so yeah, he can die at any time right now," Dr. Herman said.
The surgeon later removed the saran wrap and shaved the fur in order to clean the skin around the wound prior to the surgery.
The group then carried the mountain lion to the surgery room at around 1:50 p.m.
The mountain lion died just before 3 p.m. during surgery, Harrison said.
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