Wild Cat Station - Outdoor Exhibit at the Ecotarium
The EcoTarium museum of science and nature enthusiastically announces that two mountain lions and several native bird species are at the center of Wild Cat Station, a new spectacular outdoor exhibit at the EcoTarium museum of science and nature.Through innovative design and re-purposing of a former polar bear habitat, the permanent mountain lion habitat ranges across two stories in height, offering multiple viewing stations for guests.
It is one of the largest mountain lion exhibits in the U.S. at 18,500 square feet and meets all accreditation standards and USDA requirements to house large carnivores.
Comprised of grass, trees, rocky alcoves and outcroppings that allow the cats to utilize their natural abilities of climbing, scratching and jumping.
Museum guests will soon have the opportunity for an up-close experience with the species that were once native to New England and declared extinct in the eastern U.S. in 2018.
About the Mountain Lions
The brother and sister kittens were found emaciated in Half Moon Bay, California. After observation, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife deemed they were orphaned and brought them to Oakland Zoo for vet care.
Both were infected with external and internal parasites. The male, in particular, had sustained injuries to his face and principally his nose, most likely due to interactions with other wildlife.
Due to their lack of survival skills, they were unable to be returned to their natural environment. Because the Zoo already has three mountain lions acquired in late 2017, the EcoTarium worked with them through Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife for safe transport of the cats.
Curator of Living Collections at the EcoTarium Johanna Black and a team of wildlife keepers will care for the large cats handling their nutrition, enrichment, and medical care. The cats will be trained as all animals at the museum are using positive reinforcement.
The bird habitats at Wild Cat Station will house vultures, corvid species, and a hawk. All species are native and serve major roles in the ecosystem as predators and scavengers and contribute to rodent control. The site will also offer educational information regarding the use of rodenticide and the implications it has on various species in the natural environment.
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| LOCATION | ↑ top |
222 Harrington Way, Worcester, MA map
Phone: 508-929-2700
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