HOUSTON — Shasta VII and his brother Louie, two new cougar cubs at the Houston Zoo, are already taking part in the long-held tradition of guarding the rings of University of Houston graduates.
The brothers officially began their duties as representatives of UH by guarding two rings on Dec. 1.
In a video shared by the zoo, Shasta VII and Louie were curious about the ring boxes. Their keepers encouraged the exploration by hiding meatballs in the hay and climbing logs.
Zoo officials said the 11-week-old cubs remain behind the scenes as they finish quarantine and grow.
The cougar cubs were found alone in Washington state and moved to the Houston Zoo in early November.
The zoo was contacted by the Washington State Fish & Wildlife Services when a rancher found two orphaned male cubs on his property. At an estimated four weeks old when found in late October, it was unlikely the cubs would have survived on their own, zoo officials said.
Within days, the duo flew to the Lone Star State and are settling into life at the zoo.
Coog rings in Cougar habitat
On Friday, all rings for the fall 2022 ring recipients will be placed in UH-themed boxes, which will be in the empty cougar habitat all day.
UH students and guests can view the class rings on display and take photos in front of the habitat. Current UH students receive free daytime general Zoo admission with a valid ID all year long. Students must reserve a ticket ahead of time online before visiting the Zoo.