Incredible story out of California where a mountain lion known “The Hollywood Cat” inspired the construction of the world’s largest wildlife crossing and invigorated a national campaign to support crossings and corridors across the nation.
Cougar P-22 gained national recognition after he successfully crossed multiple freeways to find a new home in Griffith Park located at the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains in Los Angeles, California. P-22 lived for more than 10 years in the smallest home range that has ever been recorded for an adult male mountain lion.
In December 2022 National Park Service biologists worked with California Department of Fish and Wildlife to capture P-22 for a health evaluation. The results show he had several severe injuries likely from a vehicle strike and multiple chronic health illnesses. Due to his poor condition the extremely difficult decision to euthanize P-22 on the morning of Dec. 17, 2022.
The Hollywood Cat’s legacy will live on a big way as research into his how he originally got to Griffith Park has pinpointed the vital location for a wildlife crossing to be built to restitch an entire ecosystem. The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing is currently under construction and when it open in early 2026, it will be he world’s largest wildlife crossing.
The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing outside Los Angeles is anticipated to open by early 2026, providing a safe and sustainable passage for mountain lions and other animals over Highway 101.
Los Angeles, California: The world’s largest wildlife crossing is getting closer to becoming a reality.
Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing outside of Los Angeles is on track to open by early 2026. Ahead of National Infrastructure Week, the Governor also announced that construction crews are now more than halfway through installing the beams that form the crossing. The work is part of Governor Newsom’s infrastructure agenda to build more, faster.
Just last month, the first of 82 large concrete beams went up over U.S. Highway 101 at Liberty Canyon Road in Agoura Hills. The project has been made possible by a successful public-private partnership. Philanthropy has raised more than $34 million in funding, while California has provided $58.1 million in funding.
“Our work to build more, faster is already paying dividends across our state. This wildlife crossing is just one example of how California is building infrastructure that connects rather than divides. With projects like this, we’re reconnecting and restoring habitats so future generations can continue to enjoy California’s unmatched natural beauty.” –Governor Gavin Newsom
Why it matters
- U.S. Highway 101 is one of the biggest barriers to wildlife connectivity in Southern California. The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing will reconnect habitats and improve the health of the environment for many species in Southern California, including people.
- More than 30 years of conservation work has gone into strategic habitat linkages on both sides of U.S. Highway 101 so that this wildlife crossing will connect protected lands in the Santa Monica Mountains and the Sierra Madre Range.
- The overpass will reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions on one of the most congested highways in North America, decreasing the significant danger posed to people and vehicles by crossing animals.
- The crossing will provide a safe and sustainable passage for wildlife across U.S. Highway 101, creating increased access for animals to find food, shelter and mates, which is increasingly important in light of climate change and continued human development that is pressuring species survival.
- This project will help educate millions of Californians driving under the crossing and advance California’s 30×30 goal to conserve 30% of the state’s lands and coastal waters by 2030, ensuring that wildlife can move across conserved habitats that provide shelter, food and water. Â
OW WE GOT HERE: On Earth Day 2022, Governor Newsom participated in the groundbreaking for the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, a public-private partnership of monumental scope that has leveraged the expertise and leadership of dozens of organizations and institutions to protect and restore wildlife habitats in Southern California.
Wildlife crossings of all kinds are essential to building a network of interconnected conserved lands and waters that protect and restore biodiversity while also supporting transportation infrastructure.
Habitat connectivity provided by wildlife crossings is critical to the success of California’s 30×30 targets and allows people and nature to thrive together.
image credit: 101wildlifecrossing