It took nearly five months of careful rehabilitation to nurse the young male lion back to health without letting it get too dependent on, or comfortable around, people.

A young mountain lion hit by a vehicle in January was released back to the wild in Orange County after nearly five months of rehabilitation at the San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center, officials said.

The mountain lion, estimated to be about 10 months old, was hit by a car back in January and had been recovering at the center since.