Travellers' Choice™ Best of the Best
Diego's journey to find a permanent home has been filled with uncertainty and challenges, but he has finally found his sanctuary at Lions Tigers & Bears.
Diego was anonymously dropped off at a pet hospital in Rancho Bernardo, leaving no clues about his origins. There was no way to tell whether he was a wild bobcat or an illegally bred, captive exotic cat, as the people who left him refused to provide their names or contact information.
Despite being sick, Diego did not exhibit typical wild bobcat behavior. He appeared accustomed to human contact, knowing how to feed from a bottle, purring when held, and constantly seeking human interaction.
After receiving medical treatment for two days to stabilize him, the pet hospital contacted Lions Tigers & Bears to provide permanent refuge for Diego in coordination with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Upon his arrival at the sanctuary, Diego was very trusting of humans, and we began acclimating him to life at our sanctuary.
A Detour to Rewilding and Returning to LTB
However, a week later, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife reversed their decision, opting instead to transfer Diego to a rewilding and rehabilitation center in Northern California in hopes he could return to the wild. Soon It would become obvious that Diego was captive bred and would be unable to enter the wild.
After a six-month attempt at "deprogramming" this orphaned baby bobcat failed, Lions Tigers & Bears received a call yet again to take in Diego. We welcomed him back to our sanctuary, and now Diego can call Lions Tigers & Bears his forever home. You can sponsor Diego, helping to ensure he receives the care and support he needs for a happy and healthy life at the sanctuary.
August 2024
Diego was anonymously dropped off at a pet hospital in Rancho Bernardo, with no clues about his origins and signs of being captive bred.
August 2024
After two days of medical treatment, Diego was transferred to Lions Tigers & Bears for permanent refuge, where he began adjusting to life at the sanctuary.
September 2024
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife moved Diego to a rewilding center in hopes he could return to the wild, but his behavior confirmed he was captive bred.
March 2025
After a failed six-month rewilding attempt, Diego returned to Lions Tigers & Bears, where he now has a permanent sanctuary and specialized care.
Ph: 619.659.8078
Fx: 619.659.8841
[email protected]
24402 Martin Way, Alpine, CA 91901
Subscribe for our newsletter & get the latest news, exclusive deals, and to hear amazing stories of our rescued animals!
