In Hollywood, when one star fades, one other is definitely on the rise. And that’s precisely what occurred when a brand new mountain lion was found within the Hollywood Hills.
The unique neighbourhoods close to California’s well-known “Hollywood” signal have lengthy been a refuge for the wealthy and well-known. However for a decade, these hillsides additionally had been dwelling to “P-22” – or the “Brad Pitt” of mountain lions.
P-22, or Puma-22, grew to become a global sensation after his {photograph} in entrance of the Hollywood signal at night time appeared in Nationwide Geographic.
“When he confirmed up, he grew to become an A-lister,” mentioned Beth Pratt, the California director of the Nationwide Wildlife Federation.
“Folks had been simply in awe that this wild creature was there, they usually got here to like and join with him in several methods.”
However he received sick with a number of sicknesses and accidents, and was euthanised in 2022.
Now, a brand new lion’s on the town, mentioned specialists investigating sightings.
“We don’t know the place this cat got here from, he’s not collared,” Ms Pratt advised the BBC. “It’s positively a mountain lion in these movies and pictures.”
There have been a number of sightings over the previous week, one captured on a safety digicam and one other filmed from a automotive.
“Will this cat be as expert as P-22 was at avoiding vehicles for a decade?” she mentioned. “We don’t know what’s going to occur right here.”
Also called pumas or cougars, the large cats are native to California. However for one to make it into Los Angeles is sort of uncommon.
The world the place the as-yet-unnamed animal was seen is surrounded by heavy visitors.
A advantage of the cat’s city oasis within the Hollywood Hills is an abundance of deer, the mountain lion’s prey of selection, she mentioned.
The intrigue is to see if the brand new cat will stick round, and whether or not it will probably survive metropolis life.
“He would have needed to cross a few main freeways to get there,” Ms Pratt mentioned. “He may keep, or he may head again out, nevertheless it’s dangerous.”
Many residents are hopeful, particularly after the lack of P-22.
Sheila Irani, who has lived within the space for 30 years, recalled watching P-22 heading up her again steps late one night time.
“As a result of I’ve a gate closed up there he simply rotated and walked again down,” she mentioned.
“He wasn’t ominous however he positively exuded energy and confidence… He was simply actually lean, with excessive cheekbones. Only a lovely good-looking boy.”
“Then my pal arrived and noticed him from the automotive and was scared to demise.”
Deadly encounters with mountain lions in California are extraordinarily uncommon.
“Within the final 100 years there’s solely been round two dozen assaults in an space with 40 million folks,” Ms Pratt mentioned. “So the chance is extraordinarily low.”
“They’re primarily not enthusiastic about folks, however every now and then one thing does occur.”
Suzanne Pye, a neighborhood resident, walks the paths as much as the Hollywood signal and mentioned she isn’t fearful. “It’s going so as to add a frisson of pleasure to the morning hikes.”
Similar to Hollywood’s celebrities, the uncommon sightings of P-22 solely elevated his mystique.
“Once you consider Hollywood, you consider folks coming right here to make it huge. And that’s what he did, he was a loner who got here right here and have become an enormous star,” Ms Pye mentioned.
“Only a few folks noticed him, however everyone liked him.”
Now {that a} new mountain lion is on the town, it’s a probability for specialists to check the way it adapts to America’s second largest metropolis.
“I believe it’s an indication that wildness has not given up on LA,” Ms Pratt mentioned.
