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LA's King Cougar Honored With Bronze
11 Sep
Summary
- A bronze sculpture of P-22 will be installed in Griffith Park.
- P-22 famously crossed freeways to reach Griffith Park.
- Wildlife officials euthanized P-22 in December 2022.
The city of Los Angeles will immortalize its most famous mountain lion, P-22, with a bronze sculpture to be installed at Griffith Park. This iconic cougar, known for his remarkable journey across busy freeways to inhabit the 4,200-acre park, became a symbol of wildlife's presence within the urban landscape.
The sculpture, created by artist Adam Matano, aims to represent P-22's spirit and his unique connection to the city. Funded by private donations, the artwork will be situated at the park's visitor center. P-22's life in Los Angeles was closely followed by the public and media.
Wildlife officials made the difficult decision to euthanize P-22 in December 2022, at an estimated age of 12 years old, after he attacked a dog and showed signs of significant health decline, possibly from a vehicle strike. His story has also highlighted the need for wildlife corridors, such as the Wallis Annenberg wildlife crossing set to open soon.
