Central Florida Zoo welcomes orphaned cougar cub siblings in Sanford

The Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens has taken in two orphaned cougar cub siblings, a male and female about 10 weeks old, and the Sanford attraction says the pair will become part of its animal family after being found without their mother in South Dakota. Too young to survive on their own in the wild, the cubs were brought to Seminole County for a permanent home and the specialized care they need to keep growing.

Zoo staff said the cubs were just two or three weeks old when they were found and now weigh about 9 to 12 pounds. They are gaining weight quickly, with caretakers saying they can put on as much as half a pound a day. For a species that depends on close monitoring in early life, that growth matters: veterinarians and animal care staff are watching for normal behaviors such as climbing, scratching and vocalizing to one another when startled.

The cubs are staying behind the scenes for now and will remain in quarantine for at least 30 days, which the zoo said is standard for incoming mammals. That period gives staff time to monitor health, behavior and development before the animals move into a more public setting. The zoo said the cubs will not be available for visitors right away, but residents should be able to see them later this year once they are ready for their public debut.

Richard Glover, the zoo’s CEO, said the team is excited to watch the cubs reach new milestones. The zoo framed their arrival as both a rescue and an education opportunity, noting that cougars are among the largest wild cats in the Americas and that the siblings will give guests another reason to learn about the species.

The new arrivals also fit a broader role the zoo has played in recent years as a placement site for animals that need long-term support and specialized care. From its campus at 3755 W. Seminole Blvd. in Sanford, the zoo has built part of its identity around rescue, rehabilitation and conservation work that reaches well beyond Seminole County. For families watching the summer season unfold, the cougar cubs add a local reason to keep an eye on the zoo’s updates as the animals settle in.