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Kamloops  

City cougar euthanized

UPDATE: 8:15 p.m.

A four-month-old male cougar that was wandering around the downtown core of Kamloops has been euthanized by conversation officers. 

Conservation officers Sgt. Kevin Van Damme told CTV News the cougar could not be rehabilitated or kept in captivity. 

"Unfortunately, this guy's lost his ability to learn how to be a cougar in the wild and no real chance for it to learn those skills," he said. "At four months of age, there's no option for the animal to go to a zoo or any wildlife park facility."

He added it is rare to see a cougar right in downtown Kamloops. 

- with files from CTV Vancouver


ORIGINAL: 5:41 p.m.

A cougar made its way into downtown Kamloops on Wednesday.

Erik Nelson spotted the cougar walking between apartment buildings on Nicola Street and 3rd Avenue.

"The officers were properly putting themselves between the beast and the public,” he posted on Facebook.

Nelson described the animal as a "youthful cougar" and said officers could not tranquillize the animal because it was too close to buildings.

“You could see people standing at their windows watching the situation, too dangerous to take a shot,” he said.

According to Nelson, officers were able to safely remove the animal. 



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