LOS ANGELES—P-22, the mountain lion who was captured Dec. 12 in a Los Feliz backyard in a severely underweight and injured condition, was euthanized Dec. 17 morning, California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials announced.
“This really hurts,” the department’s Director Chuck Bonham said Saturday morning, fighting back tears. “It’s been an incredibly difficult several days, and for myself, I felt the entire weight of the city of Los Angeles on my shoulders.”
Bonham said P22 had a number of serious injuries and chronic health problems, and after consultation with several veterinary experts, the decision was made to humanely euthanize the animal at San Diego Zoo Safari Park, where he was being treated, to spare him further suffering….