On Saturday, a pair of brothers aged 21 and 18 were attacked by a cougar in El Dorado County in Northern California.
Now the young men have been identified as Taylen Robert Claude Brooks (21) and Wyatt Brooks (18) from Mount Aukum in California.
The latter survived the attack, but is being treated for “major facial injuries”, writes ABC11.
Died on the spot
According to the news website, the 18-year-old called the emergency number and said that he and his older brother had been attacked by a cougar.
The incident took place near the city of Georgetown.
The 18-year-old was separated from his older brother during the attack. Taylen Robert Claude Brooks was later found on the ground, with the cougar crouched next to him, according to a statement from the police, reproduced by ABC11.
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The rescue team had to fire shots to scare the animal away, so that they could safely get to the 21-year-old. He should then have already died, it is reported.
Killed
The cougar was later euthanized by the wildlife commission and sent for an autopsy.
In a statement from the brothers’ family, it is said that:
“We thank you for the support and all the prayers from family, friends and the community. We are devastated by Taylen’s tragic passing, but we are grateful that Wyatt is still with us.”
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Furthermore, the family says that the brothers loved to hunt and fish together, and that they were out on adventures almost every day.
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“These two young men were as close as two brothers could be. They lived a full life and loved the outdoors […] Taylen really loved fishing and was extremely skilled on the guitar. He was a kind and gentle soul and he will be deeply missed by all who knew him.”
According to the police, it is now planned to create a memorial for Taylen Robert Claude Brooks.
Rare attacks
In 2004, a 35-year-old man was killed at Whiting Ranch Regional Park in Orange County, California.
Since 1986, 21 cougar attacks have been recorded in the state, where people have either been injured or lost their lives as a result of the attack.
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Puma, also called mountain lion, is a species of predator in the cat family. They are found in both North and South America. Except for humans, the cougar has the largest range of any mammal in the Western Hemisphere.
The puma has a body length of 100 to 150 centimeters and can weigh between 30 and 120 kilograms. The tail is up to 90 centimeters long, according to the report Large Norwegian encyclopedia.
The feline has been recorded in mountains up to 5,800 meters above sea level, and it hunts by stalking its prey and attacking from behind at close range.