Celebrity Cougar P-22 Receives New Collar, Status Update

HOLLYWOOD, CA — Griffith Park's resident mountain lion P-22 has been fitted with a new GPS collar, allowing biologists to continue tracking his movements. The battery in the celebrity lion's old collar was about to expire, according to the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

"Our biologists say this cat is an especially fascinating animal to study," officials said in a statement. "His safe passage into and life in the park is a testament to the wild spaces remaining in LA. Most adult male mountain lions require ranges of 150 square miles, but P-22’s habitat is akin to a tiny (just nine square miles)!"

Biologists also announced P-22 currently weighs 123 pounds, and appears to be in good condition.

The cougar is now over 11 years old, making him a senior citizen in his species. The oldest mountain lion documented by the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area was 12 years old, who just so happened to be P-22's father.

Back in the day, genetic testing revealed that P-22 was likely born in the Santa Monica Mountains," officials said. "That means he would have had to cross both the 405 and the 101 Freeways to reach Griffith Park! That's an amazing feat unmatched by any other mountain lion, as far as we know."

Mountain lions typically live up to 10 years in the wild, according to the National Wildlife Federation. In captivity, they can survive up to 21 years.