‘Hollywood Cat’ is no more: Los Angeles’ most famous mountain lion was euthanized on Saturday, wildlife officials said. The old feline, around eleven years old, was known to prowl the heights of Hollywood and its famous giant billboard, hence his nickname acquired over time.
Officers had decided at the beginning of December to capture him because of his unpredictable behavior, perhaps the consequence of a collision with a vehicle. According to a statement from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, veterinarians spotted that he suffered injuries to his head and right eye and suffered damage to internal organs. The cougar was also sick with kidneys, thin, suffered from skin infections and arthritis.
“Abridge your suffering and stress”
“The most difficult but compassionate decision was to end his suffering and stress by ending his life,” the statement said, adding that “P-22 (the code name of the animal, editor’s note) has (was) had an extraordinary life and won the hearts of the people of Los Angeles and more”. California Governor Gavin Newsom hailed the “incredible life” of the iconic big cat, which has “captivated people around the world”.
Griffith Park, a 23 square kilometer natural island where the animal likely lived for a decade, is surrounded by highways and urban sprawl. Experts were impressed with the epic ride of P-22, 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 lamented that Griffith Park was too small to accommodate another mountain lion and that (P-22) was “unlikely to find love.” The “Hollywood cat” became famous by appearing several times to the public, on video or in the flesh. A Facebook page, created in his honor, has more than 20,000 subscribers.