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P-22

Perhaps the only Hollywood celebrity to grace the cover of National Geographic Magazine, P-22 was a tawny-coated mountain with piercing blue eyes that established his territory in Griffith Park as a lifelong bachelor — but only after making the death-defying journey across both the 405 and 101 Freeways from the Santa Monica Mountains in 2012. After over a decade in the smallest territory for any mountain lion known to survive in — just 9 square miles — and surpassing the life expectancy of a male puma in the wild, P-22 began to suffer geriatric feline illnesses and suffered traumatic injuries that led to his human euthanization on December 17, 2022.

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A woman wearing a cat-ear headband stands up from her seat as a band plays on a stage at a daytime, outdoor concert.
The life of P-22, the beloved Griffith Park mountain lion that died in December 2022, was celebrated at a free event at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on February 4, 2023. The famous puma's Celebration of Life, which was also livestreamed, was presented and sponsored by the National Wildlife Foundation and hosted by advocate Beth Pratt — along with multiple speeches, eulogies and performances. Watch the recording of the memorial service here.
A close-up of the mountain lion known as P-22
P-22, the beloved puma (a.k.a. mountain lion) that occupied Griffith Park in Los Angeles, was euthanized on Saturday, California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials announced.
A coyote howling with city lights behind him. | Earth Focus
Often assumed to reside in mountains and state parks, coyotes and mountain lions have adapted to survive in habitats that may be much closer to us that we think.
 An image of P-22 showing his recovery from mange November 2014. (large) | National Park Service/Flickr
Confronting the death of P-41 and the sometimes-Pyrrhic victories of P-22 underscore just how difficult it is for wild animals – especially large carnivores – to find their way in the big city.
A Tale of Two Mountain Lions - SoCal Connected
Los Angeles is painting the town red this weekend to celebrate its favorite celebrity mountain lion for P-22 Day on October 22.
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To build an effective and safe wildlife crossing, you have to think like an animal.
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Wildlife crossing a key to long-term survival
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Calls to move P-22 in the wake of a zoo koala death are misguided.
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Our city--often associated with brown skies, high-speed pavement, and its concrete river--still maintains an intimate relationship with nature.
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A much-celebrated Los Angeles puma whose image graced the pages of a national magazine last year is suffering serious health effects from exposure to rat poison, according to biologists working with the National Park Service.
Puma | Chris Clarke photo
Though it's incredibly unlikely that you'll be truly threatened by a wild mountain lion, we offer tips on how to manage the situation.
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