Griffith Park mountain lion reported in Silver Lake
The famous Griffith Park mountain lion, known as P-22, has been exploring some new neighborhoods lately, the National Park Service confirmed Thursday.
There were reports of the mountain lion seen in Silver Lake on Tuesday night, the farthest south the 12-year-old animal has ventured. The National Park Service, which has been tracking P-22 for 10 years, said the mountain lion passed through that area on Tuesday night.
NPS Santa Monica Public Affairs Officer Ana Beatriz Cholo told KTLA the mountain lion was in the area around 7 p.m. and several people took photos of the big cat.
The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area posted Thursday on its Facebook page that, “Two nights ago, we tracked P-22, a 12-year-old mountain lion we’ve been studying for the last decade, in Silver Lake, the furthest south he’d ever ventured since living in Griffith Park.
“We’re happy to report that P-22 has made it back to his regular stomping grounds in Griffith Park!”
According to Cholo, as reported by KTLA, the mountain lion is sometimes spotted in urban areas near the park, and was once found in a basement in Los Feliz.
P-22 was most likely born in the Santa Monica Mountains, and he crossed the 101 and 405 freeways years ago to Griffith Park to hunt for food.