LOS ANGELES—A radio-collared mountain lion known as P-81 was found dead on Pacific Coast Highway near Las Posas Road in the western Santa Monica Mountains following a likely vehicle strike, the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area announced.
“We are saddened to share mountain lion P-81 was likely killed by vehicle strike Sunday, Jan. 22,” the recreation area announced Friday on its official Twitter page.
Officials said California Fish and Wildlife officers collected P-81’s body on the highway, and that a necropsy will be performed to confirm the approximately 4-year-old male died after being struck.
The lion is one of many Southland-area cats being tracked by National Park Service researchers, and his death comes just over a month after the more-famous P-22—known as the “Hollywood Cat”—was euthanized on Dec. 17….