Authorities dubbed him P-22, but for many people in Los Angeles he was their mascot: a cougar who lived in the city's city park for 12 years. Now the animal, which is also known for its eyes, has been put to sleep.
Los Angeles has lost a kind of mascot: The Puma P-22, which has been living wild in the city park for more than a decade, was put down on Saturday after an accident – probably with a car – as the “Los Angeles Times” reported. In addition, the estimated twelve-year-old animal suffered from several diseases. The wild cat was caught on Monday because it had recently attacked three dogs. Experts attributed this to the diseases.
The popular cougar first appeared in 2012 in the city's Griffith Park - an area of about three square kilometers surrounded by freeways. P-22 is said to have been about two years old at the time. Wildlife photographer Steve Winter set up several infrared cameras in the park and, among other things, managed to take a photo showing the cougar with the famous Hollywood sign in the background.
P-22 became the face of an international campaign to save Southern California's endangered cougars. Recently, however, the puma had fared badly: investigations had shown a skull fracture, an injury to the right eye and internal organ damage. In addition, P-22 suffered from heart, kidney and liver disease. Fans of the puma had hoped until the end that the puma could be taken to a nature reserve.
The sadness of the loss was great. One congressman called P-22 a "beloved mascot," and one biologist an "iconic ambassador for wildlife." And another fan tweeted that the 12-year-old bachelor with the mesmerizing eyes was clearly "the coolest cat in L.A." been - a play on words, because in English "cool cat" also describes a particularly great person.
California Governor Gavin Newsom stated that P-22's survival "on an island of wilderness in the heart of Los Angeles has captivated people around the world and reinvigorated efforts to protect our diverse native species and ecosystems".
