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Iconic California mountain lion P-22 was « compassionately euthanized » on Saturday, wildlife officials announced, after suffering from multiple injuries and illnesses.
P-22 — who spent much of his life at Griffith Park in Los Angeles — had been captured on Monday following suspicions that he was « exhibiting signs of distress, » the California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced.
The distress signals included the killing of a leashed Chihuahua in the Hollywood Hills on November 9, CDFW said in a statement. P-22 attempted to kill a second Chihuahua on December 8.
Following P-22’s capture, a series of tests on the mountain lion revealed that he sustained trauma to his head, right eye, and internal organs as a result of a vehicle strike. The tests also showed the mountain lion suffered from multiple ailments, including kidney disease, a significant loss of weight, arthritis, and a parasitic skin infection all over his body.
« P-22’s advanced age, combined with chronic, debilitating, life-shortening conditions and the clear need for extensive long-term veterinary intervention left P-22 with no hope for a positive outcome, » a statement from the CDFW said.
