THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — A Southern California mountain lion that was part of a study by federal biologists has been found dead.
The National Park Service says remains of the 5 1/2 -year-old female lion known as P-23 were recovered this week near Malibu Canyon Road and she appeared to have been struck by a vehicle.
Biologist Jeff Sikich of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area says P-23 had been tracked since she was just a few weeks old. Biologists monitored her as she left her mother, established her own home range and had three litters of kittens.
Sikich says her premature death shows the challenge facing the cats as they try to navigate the region’s roads. P-23 is the 18th mountain lion killed on a freeway or road in the study region since 2002.
