Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Two bobcats have been returned to the wild almost exactly one year after the siblings got separated from their mother.
The bobcats, named Electra and Orion, were released at Upper Tampa Bay Conservation Park on Friday, where they will have over 600 acres to roam.
10-year-old released from hospital after Winter Haven hit-and-run that killed his friend
Owl’s Nest Sanctuary for Wildlife took the siblings in for rehab on March 21, 2025. They were only newborns at the time and had gotten separated from their mother after their burrow was interrupted by construction, officials said.
Staff spent hours feeding the two cubs and making sure they were gaining weight properly. They eventually began introducing the siblings to meat and play, ensuring that they would one day be able to hunt on their own.
With both now healthy, staff watched Friday as Electra and Orion sprinted from their cages and headed off into the wild side-by-side. The sight elicited applause from everyone who came to watch.
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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Two bobcats have been returned to the wild almost exactly one year after the siblings got separated from their mother.
The bobcats, named Electra and Orion, were released at Upper Tampa Bay Conservation Park on Friday, where they will have over 600 acres to roam.
10-year-old released from hospital after Winter Haven hit-and-run that killed his friend
Owl’s Nest Sanctuary for Wildlife took the siblings in for rehab on March 21, 2025. They were only newborns at the time and had gotten separated from their mother after their burrow was interrupted by construction, officials said.
Staff spent hours feeding the two cubs and making sure they were gaining weight properly. They eventually began introducing the siblings to meat and play, ensuring that they would one day be able to hunt on their own.
With both now healthy, staff watched Friday as Electra and Orion sprinted from their cages and headed off into the wild side-by-side. The sight elicited applause from everyone who came to watch.
The Official Hillsborough County, Florida Government YouTube channel is powered by Hillsborough Television (HTV), find more of our programming at these outlets:
Hillsborough County, Florida cable TV subscribers can view us on:
Frontier - Ch. 22
Spectrum - Ch. 637
Also view us on:
LIVE: hillsboroughcounty.granicus.com/player/camera/2?
VOD: hillsboroughcounty.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=1
The Official Hillsborough County, Florida Government Website:
HCFL.gov
Become a fan of Hillsborough County, Florida on Facebook at...
facebook.com/hillsboroughFL
Follow Hillsborough County, Florida on Twitter at...
twitter.com/hillsboroughFL
By commenting in this forum, you give Hillsborough County (and the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System) the right to reproduce, distribute, publish, display, edit, modify, and create derivative works from, and otherwise use, your submission for any purpose in any form and on any media. Comments that include the following will be hidden/removed and may lead to a user being banned from participation in our social media outlets:
Advertisements or solicitations
Repeated instances of the same post (spam)
Malicious links
Material that infringes on the rights of any third party, including intellectual property, privacy or publicity rights
Personal attacks against others, including Commissioners or staff members
Sensitive materials including, but not limited to: illegal activities, gambling, sexually explicit materials, weapons, drugs, violence, inappropriate language, racial, discriminatory comments, defamatory statements, partisan political positions, and religious positions.
