A rehabilitated mountain lion has returned to the wild in California.

Footage shows the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) releasing the young female animal in San Bernardino County on November 20 after a six-month recovery at the San Diego Humane Society's Ramona Wildlife Center.

The mountain lion arrived at the centre with severe wounds, anaemia, and extreme weight loss caused by an animal attack.

Wildlife Operations Manager Autumn Nelson said: 'We did not know if this mountain lion was going to make it at first because she was so debilitated.'

The wild cat made a full recovery through intensive care, including antibiotics, pain relief, and a natural recovery enclosure.

Now fitted with a GPS collar to monitor her progress, the lion roams free, marking a success for the San Diego Humane Society's Project Wildlife program.

The organization, which specializes in helping apex predators, rehabilitates more than 10,000 wild animals each year, giving creatures like this cougar a second chance in the wild.