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Mountain lion present in San Francisco tree is from Santa Cruz Mountains, zoo officers say

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) – Veterinarians at the Oakland Zoo examined the mountain lion that was found and captured late Wednesday night in San Francisco and said it was young and healthy.

“This is a beautiful two year old male mountain lion. He is looking very healthy and has been radio chained by UC Santa Cruz so we know a little about him. He is young so he probably broke up with his mother recently,” said Dr. Alex Herman, vice president of veterinary services at Oakland Zoo.

California Fish and Wildlife crews safely removed the mountain lion found in a tree after someone who parked his car picked it up on Santa Marina Street near Mission Street near the Bernal neighborhood around 10:00 p.m. Wednesday night Heights had discovered.

State officials used an arrow to calm the big cat. Then it fell asleep on the porch under the tree and took him to the Oakland Zoo.

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The mountain lion is believed to be the same one spotted Tuesday morning in the Portola and Bernal Heights neighborhoods.

Our vet and zookeeper investigated the mountain lion rescue we received last night. Overall, the 2-year-old man is in excellent health! After his exam and vaccinations, he was sent to @CaliforniaDFW along with our best wishes for release in a safe location in Santa Clara County. pic.twitter.com/wWhMWjhp5a

– Oakland Zoo (@oakzoo) May 20, 2021

The mountain lion wore a tracking collar, so it is known to state wildlife officials.

WATCH: Mountain Lion safely removed from SF’s Bernal Heights neighborhood

“I think I’ve called him Mr. Handsome several times! That’s the name that came to mind,” she said.

RELATED: VIDEO: Mountain Lion stares through the window into Scotts Valley home

Mr. Handsome was busy. Cameras caught him roaming the streets of San Francisco’s Bernal Heights and Portola neighborhoods, walking next to parked cars, strolling through backyards and even checking someone’s porch.

A spokesman for the Puma project said they fitted him with a tracking device shortly after he was born to study the behavior of mountain lions. They say his long distance travel is normal as he looks for turf to call himself.

Officials will now take him back to the wild and hope he stays there this time.

“Official policy is, I can’t say where he will be released, but he probably won’t go back to Santa Cruz because we don’t want him to come back to San Francisco,” Herman said.

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