Oakland Zoo welcomes two orphaned mountain lion cubs

Two orphaned mountain lion cubs from Southern California have found a new home at the Oakland Zoo.

The three-or four-month-old males were found in Orange County two weeks and 15 miles apart, according to the zoo. One was found in someone's backyard, the other was found along a road.

Because of their ages and proximity to each other, veterinarians think the two are brothers. Officials believe their mother may be an adult female mountain lion who was struck and killed by a vehicle near where the cubs were found.

Veterinarians will conduct DNA tests to see if the cubs are, in fact, related. One of the cubs is described as "shy" while the other one is "feisty."

Both will move into the zoo's new mountain lion habitat once it is ready early next year.

"It is an honor to provide a forever home for these young mountain lions, and honor their lives further by working to help conserve their wild counterparts," said Amy Gotliffe, the zoo's director of conservation, said in a statement.