Heartwarming video shows rescued mountain lion cub recovering at Oakland Zoo

A heartwarming video out of the Oakland Zoo shows a rescued mountain lion cub displaying his playful and surprisingly fierce side during recovery.

In the clip, the cub can be seen pouncing on, hugging and wrestling a giant stuffed sloth, gripping it with his paws and kicking as if taking down real prey.

The behavior is not just cute, zoo officials say, it is critical to his recovery.

A rescued mountain lion cub wrestles a giant stuffed sloth at the Oakland Zoo. April 2026. (Oakland Zoo)
A rescued mountain lion cub wrestles a giant stuffed sloth at the Oakland Zoo. April 2026. (Oakland Zoo)
A rescued mountain lion cub wrestles a giant stuffed sloth at the Oakland Zoo. April 2026. (Oakland Zoo)
A rescued mountain lion cub wrestles a giant stuffed sloth at the Oakland Zoo. April 2026. (Oakland Zoo)

The young mountain lion, named Crimson, was found abandoned in the wild with injuries, including missing toes on one of his hind feet.

Zoo caretakers say enrichment activities like the oversized toy help build strength and mimic natural hunting instincts.

So far, Crimson appears to be thriving.

The zoo plans to soon introduce him to another rescued cub, Clover. Staff hope the pairing will support both animals’ development through social play.