California Mountain Lion’s Fate Hangs in the Balance

In a remarkable show of support for mountain lions, over 300 community members crowded into a full meeting room at Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills last Wednesday to discuss the fate of P-45, a four-year old male mountain lion who is reported to have killed several alpacas on a Malibu ranch. In Defense of Animals and other animal rights groups attended to voice our concerns to save P-45, who followed his natural instincts.

This fate of this lion is vital to the health of the Santa Monica Mountain lion population, which is geographically bounded by highways and genetically isolated. National Park Service (NPS) biologists say P-45 is one of two breeding males siring healthy lion kittens in the region. Without P-45, the local lion population could become extinct.

Tension was high as biologists, conservation organizations, activists, lion-supporters, and ranch neighbors advocated for and against the depredation permit issued by California Fish and Game for the rancher to kill the offending lion. Although California lions are protected under Proposition 117, the process of acquiring a depredation permit doesn’t require preventative measures such as guard dogs or complete enclosures for all animals. Until these legislative changes are made, the fate of P-45 and other lions depend on the compassion of landowners who fear further attacks on domestic and animal companions.

Due to immense public pressure and offers by wildlife advocacy groups to fund the building of a new, lion-proof enclosure for their livestock, the landowner decided against following through on the depredation permit. But an outspoken neighbor, who already took a shot at P-45, told the press that he will request a depredation permit if the lion attacks another domestic animal.

Know anyone who lives in mountain lion country with domestic or animal companions? Here are instructions to build a lion-proof enclosure from the Mountain Lion Foundation.

Read more in this LA Times article.