TOLEDO, Ohio — Some familiar faces have made their return to the Toledo Zoo after some time out of the spotlight.
The zoo's trio of cougars are once again on exhibit at Tiger Terrace, just in time to celebrate the final weeks of Lights Before Christmas.
The zoo made the announcement Tuesday on social media.
The cougars, also called pumas or mountain lions, came to the Toledo Zoo as cubs in 2017 after the state of Washington's Department of Fish and Wildlife reached out to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to find the cubs a home after they lost their mothers due to human-wildlife conflict.
The cougars have been off exhibit for the past few years, Toledo Zoo officials told WTOL 11 in November.
Cougars are found in North and South America, and while not endangered, some populations are extremely threatened, according to the zoo. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources reports that cougars have been eliminated from the state and confirmed sightings are extremely rare.
In Michigan, cougars were also a native species but wiped out in the early 1900s. Several sightings have been confirmed across the state, but mostly in the northern region and upper peninsula, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
To check out the cougars in person, stop by the Tiger Terrace at the Toledo Zoo. Ticket information is available at this link.