The mountain lion P-22 was practically a cult figure in Los Angeles — a part of the lore of the city. Wild and nimble, he lived and hunted in Griffith Park, a nine-square-mile range that’s minuscule for a big cat, staying out of sight during daylight hours.
Residents were enchanted by his presence and jolted by the suddenness of his death. After a decade in Griffith Park, the 12-year-old lion wandered into nearby neighborhoods where he killed a pet dog and probably was hit by at least one car. After he was caught and tranquilized, a veterinary examination revealed a grim list of ailments and he was euthanized.
The decision by state wildlife officials to end his life raised another difficult question: What should be done with his remains?
