THE LIVING DESERT ZOO AND GARDENS, the wildlife park known for its spring-predicting tortoise Mojave Maxine, the brand new Rhino Savanna, beautiful giraffes, excellent hiking trails and sparkling nighttime experiences in season, has earned a reputation as a large and abundant bastion of wildlife. ‘Animals’, a bigger-than-living place that features several super-tall and ultra-stubby creatures. But sometimes the Palm Desert Zoo welcomes a new resident who is tiny, extremely tiny, and when does that little one need a little extra attention? Staff members, doctors and feline specialists are quick to respond to help.

ARYA, a black-footed kitten was born at the Living Desert on April 8, 2022. The event, called a “historic birth,” was exciting: black-footed cats are endangered and Arya’s birth was the first at the zoo’s Desert Carnivore Conservation Center in over two decades. Add to this inspiring little story? Arya is “the only black-legged cat birth in human care this year,” the zoo shared. But a visual check on April 21 told guards that Arya had a laceration on her neck, possibly due to “overzealous grooming” by her mother, or being carried by her mother (cause n is not known). Surgery soon followed, and Arya is now healing well and displaying “a fighting spirit”.

HEALING JOURNEY: “Arya is improving steadily and we are very encouraged by her progress,” said Dr Christine Higbie, associate veterinarian at The Living Desert. “We’ve seen great improvements in her health, behavior and well-being. Her neck injury is healing very well, she’s becoming more active and eating regularly. Her recovery to date is truly remarkable, and we’ve all fallen for it. lover. little warrior.” The International Union for Conservation of Nature has categorized the black-footed cat as ‘vulnerable’ and the species currently has “an estimated population of around 13,000 individuals in its natural habitat in southern Africa”.

ARY… officially received his name, which means “honourable” in Sanskrit, on May 5 (also a nod to the powerful character from George RR Martin’s “A Song of Fire and Ice” series, the team says of the zoo). As for when Arya might make her public debut? Watch The Living Desert’s social feeds for more info on the future of this mighty fighter.