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LOS ANGELES, Dec. 18 (AP) — P-22, the famous mountain lion that settled in central Los Angeles and became a symbol of the city’s pressure on wildlife, was euthanized after a dangerous change in its behavior caused tests to show its condition worsened Potential health and injury caused by automobiles.
Officials with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said Saturday the decision to euthanize the beloved big cat came after veterinarians determined it had a fractured skull and chronic medical conditions, including skin infections and kidney and liver disease.
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“His prognosis is considered poor,” said Chuck Bonham, the agency’s director, fighting back tears during a news conference announcing the cougar’s death. “It really hurts … it’s been a very difficult few days.”
The animal became the face of a movement to build a Wildlife Crossing highway in the Los Angeles area to provide safe passage for big cats, coyotes, deer and other wildlife to travel safely The nearby Santa Monica Mountains, where they have room to roam.
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Seth Riley, head of the National Park Service’s wildlife division, called P-22 “an ambassador for his species,” and the Wildlife Bridge is a symbol of his enduring legacy.
State and federal wildlife officials announced earlier this month that they were concerned that P-22 “may be showing signs of discomfort,” in part due to aging, noting that studies of the animal are needed to determine what to do about it.
The aging mountain was filmed in the backyard of a home in Los Angeles’ trendy Los Feliz neighborhood on Dec. 12, a month after a Chihuahua was killed on a dog walker’s leash. Wildlife officials said an anonymous report suggested P-22 may have been hit by a vehicle, and CT scans confirmed injuries to his head and torso.
State authorities determined the only possible options were euthanasia or confinement in an animal sanctuary – a difficult prospect for wild lions.
P-22 is believed to be 12 years old, outliving most wild male mountain lions.
His name is his number in a National Park Service study of the challenges faced by widely roaming big cats in habitats that have been fragmented by urban sprawl and overwhelmed by large cats. Surrounded by highways of this size, these highways are not only dangerous but also an obstacle to the genetic diversity of the local population.
The cougar, often caught on security cameras, roamed residential areas near his home in Griffith Park, a wilderness and picnic area in central Los Angeles.
“P-22’s survival on a deserted island in the heart of Los Angeles captivates people from around the world and reinvigorates efforts to protect our diverse native species and ecosystems,” Governor Gavin Newsom said Saturday said in a statement.
Breaking ground this year, the wildlife crossing will extend 200 feet (60.96 meters) along US 101. Completion is expected in early 2025.
The P-22 typically hunts deer and coyotes, but in November, the National Park Service confirmed that the cougar attacked and killed a Chihuahua mix walking the narrow streets of the Hollywood Hills.
The cougar is also suspected of attacking another Chihuahua near Silver Lake this month.
Beth Pratt of the National Wildlife Federation said she hopes the life and death of P-22 will inspire more wildlife crossings in California and across the country. The nonprofit is a leading advocate for bridges in the Los Angeles area.
“He changed the way we see Los Angeles. His influence is felt around the world, Platt said, as he inspired millions to see wild animals as their neighbors.” (AP)
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)
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