Famed Los Angeles cougar P-22 to get memorial fit for a star
Tori Richards
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In a manner fitting with any deceased Hollywood royalty, beloved cougar P-22 will get a public memorial at the famed Greek Theater to celebrate his life and reflect on a legacy of wildlife preservation that he left behind.
P-22 was euthanized Dec. 17 after he endured catastrophic injuries from a car crash, combined with organ failure that comes with old age. He was at least 12 years old and had been prowling Griffith Park alone for a decade.
The free event will be Feb. 4. It is expected to draw huge crowds, as the world-famous feline has his own fan club, museum exhibit, and numerous television documentaries to his credit. The cat has been proclaimed Los Angeles’s mascot.
“We will all be grappling with the loss for some time, trying to make sense of a Los Angeles without this magnificent wild creature,” the Greek Theater’s website said. “Let’s come together as a community to celebrate his remarkable life. Joining us will be special guests speaking about their connections to P-22 — and how he also connected us all.”
The Greek Theater borders Griffith Park and is an area where P-22 sightings have occurred. Delighted residents would often post on social media surveillance camera photos showing the cat passing through their yards.
On a few occasions, P-22 would make himself at home in backyards and was even filmed in a crawlspace under a house.
LOS ANGELES MOURNS DEATH OF COUGAR P-22 WITH PLANNED MEMORIALS
Over the past two months, P-22’s behavior changed, and he began attacking pet dogs while venturing into densely populated neighborhoods. At this point, state wildlife officials decided to capture him for a checkup to see what was wrong.
His name, P-22, refers to the 22nd puma tracking device placed on an animal as part of a federal preservation study.
Los Angeles held its breath as P-22 was captured in a backyard. But this Hollywood tale did not have a happy ending, as his physical condition was dire.
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The cat’s euthanasia and the subsequent outpouring of grief on social media prompted lawmakers and conservationists to seek ways to honor Hollywood’s most unique resident, including a star on the Walk of Fame.