Los Angeles mountain lion P-22, the “Hollywood cat,” euthanized due to injuries and poor health

P-22, the celebrity mountain lion regarded as “the Hollywood cat” simply because he famously roamed the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles for around a ten years, has died, point out wildlife officers announced Saturday.

The beloved animal, who served elevate recognition for California’s significant cat inhabitants, was “compassionately euthanized” just after he was identified with persistent well being problems and significant injuries from what officials believe that was a car or truck strike, the California Section of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) reported.

“P-22’s sophisticated age, blended with chronic, debilitating, lifetime-shortening circumstances and the clear have to have for comprehensive long-term veterinary intervention left P-22 with no hope for a optimistic final result,” the division explained in a news release.

P-22 was — FILE – This Nov. 2014, file picture provided by the Nationwide Park Support shows a mountain lion identified as P-22, photographed in the Griffith Park area of Los Angeles.

U.S. National Park Services, through AP

Health care personnel attending to P-22 “pulled out all the stops” in an work to save him, but in the long run, his conditions were being much too dire, CDFW Director Chuck Bonham explained in a information convention Saturday.

“I created the selection that the right factor to do was to carry peace now, rather than have P-22 keep on by way of what would not have been acceptable from a compassionate level, in my intellect,” Bonham claimed.

P-22, who was estimated to be about 12-decades-aged, experienced not long ago appeared to be exhibiting “signals of distress,” killing a leashed pet very last thirty day period, and attacking other people. The behavior led CDFW officers to come to a decision that he required to be captured and evaluated, which they did on Dec. 12 in a yard in the Los Feliz community.

Afterwards, officers obtained a suggestion that the cat may perhaps have been strike by a motor vehicle.

Following clinical staff members at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park done tests and scans on the feline, they arrived to the conclusion that P-22 would be euthanized owing to his critically deteriorated well being. The exams confirmed he experienced “significant trauma” to his head, appropriate eye and inside organs, CDFW said. The exams also confirmed pre-current sicknesses including kidney disorder, chronic excess weight decline, a parasitic pores and skin an infection and localized arthritis.

“This really hurts, and I know that,” Bonham stated, fighting tears. “It really is been an unbelievably challenging many times. And for myself, I have got the entire body weight of the metropolis of L.A. on my shoulders.”

The agency disclosed that it would not look into the particulars of the vehicle collision, as it was not believed to be the fault of P-22 or of the driver.

“It is an eventuality that arises from habitat loss and fragmentation,” the CDFW claimed. “It underscores the have to have for thoughtful design of wildlife crossings and perfectly-planned spaces that offer wild animals home to roam.”

P-22 tranquilized and captured for evaluation — This photograph presented by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife displays P-22 transported to a wild animal care facility for a entire well being evaluation on Monday, Dec. 12, 2022 in the Hollywood Hills. P-22, the celebrated mountain lion that took up residence in the center of Los Angeles and grew to become a image of urban pressures on wildlife, was euthanized immediately after perilous improvements in his conduct led to examinations that disclosed very poor health and fitness and an injuries probably induced by a motor vehicle.

The California Division of Fish and Wildlife, by means of AP

State wildlife officers initial captured and collared P-22 in March 2012, when he was thought to be about 2-several years-outdated, according to the National Park Provider (NPS). He is one particular of close to 100 mountain lions which NPS biologists have been monitoring and finding out considering the fact that 2002 to superior comprehend the wild mountain lion and large cat population. According to NPS, at least 25 mountain lions have been fatally struck by cars in excess of that time.

P-22 “showed us what mountain lions must do to survive in our urban landscape, as he dispersed as a result of it to locate a remaining island of habitat,” NPS claimed in a assertion.

Beth Pratt, California regional executive director for the nonprofit National Wildlife Federation, wrote a heartfelt eulogy for the feline on Saturday, indicating “he altered us.”

“It truly is difficult to visualize I will be writing about P-22 in the previous tense now,” Pratt wrote. “We will all be grappling with the loss of P-22 for some time, attempting to make feeling of a Los Angeles devoid of this wonderful wild creature.”

P-22 encouraged constructive adjust for wildlife in Southern California, she wrote. He is normally specified credit for the $87 million Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing which is currently being produced in excess of the 101 Freeway in the Agoura Hills. When entire, it will make it possible for animals to roam additional freely without the risk of currently being hit by vehicles.

“He confirmed people close to the globe that we have to have to guarantee our roadways, highways, and communities are superior and safer when men and women and wildlife can freely vacation to discover foods, shelter, and people,” Pratt reported.