P-22, the “Brad Pitt of mountain lions” and the challenges of surviving on an island of habitat in the wild: The case of a remarkably old cougar
A famed mountain lion known as the “Hollywood Cat” is being evaluated by wildlife officials after showing signs of distress, including killing a leashed dog.
P-22 become a Los Angeles celebrity when he was photographed beneath the iconic Hollywood sign by a camera trap. The picture was featured in the National Geographic December issue.
The National Park Service says he got to the area from the Santa Monica Mountains, and that other lions have died trying to do that. He has gained further renown with his greatest accomplishments including posing for a now-famous photoshoot by the Hollywood Sign, overcoming a public battle with rat poison, and burrowing beneath a home in a saga that captivating TV audiences and was claimed to have killed a koala.
P-22 has been celebrated as the “Brad Pitt of mountain lions” and a sort of “ambassador for urban wildlife.” But he’s also getting up there: The NPS estimates he is 12 years old, which makes him the oldest Southern California cougar currently being studied and puts him at the far end of his species’ typical lifespan.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) calls him “a remarkably old cat in the wild,” and expressed concerns that he may be exhibiting signs of distress, citing sightings and recordings of him getting close to human dwellings. One was killed in Hollywood Hills in November while another was injured earlier this month.
“This is an unprecedented situation in which a mountain lion has continued to survive in such an urban setting,” the CDFW said. The challenges associated with living in an island of habitat seem to be getting more difficult as P-22 has aged, and scientists are noting a recently changed behavior. This underscores the consequences of a lack of habitat connectivity for mountain lions and all wildlife.”
P-22, a mountain lion after a car accident, has been captured by a wildlife officer and shipped to Los Angeles, where he was killed
The state and federal governments have agreed to bring P-22 in for a health evaluation. By Monday, they had successfully captured him in a resident’s backyard.
Resident Sarah Picchi was working from home when a wildlife officer rang her doorbell Monday morning to inform her “there’s a lion in your backyard,” as she told the Washington Post.
She and her husband watched from the window as a group of officers cautiously approached the animal in the bushes, subdued him with a tranquilizer gun, checked his teeth and temperature, carried him via tarp into a container and drove away, all in roughly 40 minutes.
P-22 was described by Picchi as “a kind of an Angeleno himself” by the New York Times.
When she heard that P-22 had been captured, she cried “tears of relief” and emphasized that he was brought in quickly and humanely.
“Thank you for the gift of knowing you, P-22. I’ll miss you forever,” Pratt said. “But I will never stop working to honor your legacy, and although we failed you, we can at least partly atone by making the world safer for your kind.”
“The results of these tests and screenings showed significant trauma to the mountain lion’s head, right eye and internal organs, confirming the suspicion of recent injury, such as a vehicle strike,” CDFW officials said in a press release announcing the decision. “The trauma to his internal organs would require invasive surgical repair.”
CDFW veterinarians and NPS biologists will determine the best next steps for the animal while also making sure the safety of the surrounding communities is a priority. “CDFW and NPS have already been in contact with leading institutions for animal care and rehabilitation centers.”
They noted “how many people are concerned about mountain lions, their conservation and P-22 in particular,” and promised to provide more updates as they have them.
P-22, a mountain lion who has spent years in Los Angeles’ Griffith Park, has been euthanized after likely suffering injuries in a “vehicle strike,” officials say.
The big cat made made headlines last month after he attacked and killed a resident’s leashed chihuahua. Authorities used his tracking collar data to locate him and take him into custody.
P-22, a 12-year old mountain lion, had an amazing journey in California, and it is time for a change – the story continues
The medical team at San Diego Zoo Safari Park told officials from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife that they had done a medical exam on P-22 and that it was time to put it down.
The 12-year old mountain lion also had “significant pre-existing illnesses, including irreversible kidney disease, chronic weight loss, extensive parasitic skin infection over his entire body and localized arthritis,” according to the release.
The department said he was in poor health and may have had some other underlying conditions not yet fully characterized by the diagnostics.
“This situation is not the fault of P-22, nor of a driver who may have hit him,” wrote the department. It is an eventuality that arises from habitat loss and it underscores the need for thoughtful construction of wildlife crossings and spaces that provide room for wild animals.
P-22’s survival in the wilderness of Los Angeles gave rise to a renewed effort to protect native species.
“The iconic mountain lion’s incredible journey helped inspire a new era of conserving and reconnecting nature, including through the world’s largest wildlife overpass in Liberty Canyon,” Newsom added. We will continue our fight to protect California’s precious natural heritage for generations to come with innovative coalitions and strategies.
Earlier this year construction on a wildlife crossing spanning 10 lanes along Highway 101 began, with the hopes of creating a safer way for animals to roam in the region. $50 million will be made available for other similar projects throughout the state.
The Hollywood Cat: Born and Born in Los Alamos (N.P.S.D. Decay of the Hollywood Cat)
The National Park Service said the “Hollywood Cat” made his debut in 2012 after crossing two major LA freeways during a trek from the Santa Monica Mountains.