P-22, Famous Griffith Park Mountain Lion, To Get A 'Health Evaluation'

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Why now? P-22 is old and may be exhibiting signs of distress. He's lived well past the typical life expectancy for a mountain lion, and scientists are noticing a recent change in his behavior, said Beth Pratt with the National Wildlife Federation. Last month, P-22 was deemed responsible for killing a leashed pet, furthering scientists’ suspicions.

Why it matters: P-22 has lived for over a decade in the smallest known home range ever recorded for a male mountain lion, cut off from surrounding habitats by Los Angeles' urban sprawl. The challenges of living in isolation seem to be increasing.

What happens next: We don't know what wildlife officials will do, but Pratt said we "must recognize when the limits of this unconnected space have been reached" and take action to protect P-22 and the community. In a tweet, Pratt said, "[e]uthanasia is not an option anyone wants to pursue and likely would only be undertaken if there was a serious health issue that would cause suffering." In a separate statement, she said officials are "committed to providing any necessary funding needed to ensure P-22 has the best care he needs," saying the decision to capture and evaluate is the "right one," and adding a personal note:

Read more:

• Here's How LA Is Going To Construct The World's Largest Wildlife Crossing
• P-22, ‘The Brad Pitt’ Of Mountain Lions, Celebrates A Decade At Griffith Park