‘Hollywood Cat’ is gone: Los Angeles’ most famous mountain lion was euthanized on Saturday, wildlife officials said. The old feline, about eleven years old, was known to hang around the heights of Hollywood and its famous giant billboard, hence the nickname he acquired over time.
The agents had decided in early December to capture him due to his unpredictable behavior, perhaps the result of a collision with a vehicle. According to a statement from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, vets noted that he suffered injuries to his head and right eye, and sustained internal organ damage. The puma was also kidney-sick, thin, suffered from skin infections and arthritis.
“Reduce suffering and stress”
“The most difficult but compassionate decision was to end his suffering and stress by ending his life,” the release reads, adding that “P-22 (the code name of the animal, ed) has ( era) had an extraordinary life and won the hearts of people in Los Angeles and beyond.” California Gov. Gavin Newsom hailed the iconic big cat’s “incredible life,” which has “captivated people all over the world” .
Griffith Park, a 23 square kilometer natural island where the animal probably lived for a decade, is surrounded by freeways and a sprawling city. Experts were impressed by the P-22’s epic ride, which had to cross two major Los Angeles freeways to reach the park in 2012.
In a report on the animal, the National Park Service complained that Griffith Park was too small to house another mountain lion and that (P-22) was “unlikely to find love.” The “Hollywood cat” has become famous by appearing several times to the public, in video or in the flesh. A Facebook page, created in his honor, has more than 20,000 subscribers.
