Early Monday, local mountain lion P-32, known for being the only mountain lion to successfully cross the Ventura Freeway (The 101), died attempting to cross the 5 Freeway in Castaic, reports the L.A. Times.
The puma was struck as he attempted to cross the freeway between 4 and 6 a.m. Monday morning. Researches have been tracking him since he was 4 weeks old using GPS information from his collar.
Because inbreeding is so common among the diminished mountain lion community in the Santa Monica Mountains, scientists have been studying various mountain lions like P-32. The effects of inbreeding can be very serious, as they not only weaken the gene pool, but can lead to sterility and heart issues.
Dr. Seth Riley, an urban wildlife expert at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, told The Malibu Times last January that the local mountain lion population was extremely low.
“They have the lowest genetic diversity of any mountain lion population in the state,” Riley said at the time.
Researches were hopeful for the twenty-one month old male as they believed he could add genetic diversity to the group of mountain lions across the freeway.
“This case illustrates the challenges that mountain lions in this region face, particularly males,” Riley said in a statement to the L.A. Times. “P-32 conquered all kinds of freeways and highways to reach the Los Padres, but it was probably another dominant male that made him leave the area and attempt one last crossing, which was obviously not successful.”
P-32 was the only mountain lion to have ever ventured out of the Santa Monica Mountains. In fact, he is known for successfully crossing multiple highways and freeways including, most famously, the 101 freeway as well as highways 23, 118, and 126, according to the L.A. Times.