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Los Angeles’ new mountain lions:
Their dad is bad news
PUBLISHED:
Two new mountain lion kittens in the hills near Los Angeles could be seen as a victory for the species — except for the fact that their father is believed to also be their grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather.
The kittens — a female-and-male pair dubbed P-59 and P-60 — were discovered this month in the Santa Monica Mountains by biologists from the National Park Service and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
They are the first litter of 2-year-old P-53, the youngest lion in the study group to bear offspring. But it’s the other line of their parentage that troubles researchers.
DNA results are pending, but circumstantial evidence indicates the father is P-12. He is the only lion known to have crossed into the Santa Monica Mountains from the north, and he has become the dominant male mountain lion in the area.
Likely Dad, Grandfather and Great Grandfather: P-12
Likely Dad, Grandfather and Great Grandfather: P-12
Biologists are concerned because he has mated with his own offspring and their offspring, which reduces the genetic diversity of the mountain lions in the area.
“If P-12 is in fact these kittens’ father, that also means he’s their grandfather, their great-grandfather, and their great-great-grandfather,” said Jeff Sikich, a biologist with Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, a unit of the National Park Service. “Inbreeding to this degree really highlights the need for providing safe passage across the 101 freeway so new mountain lions can enter the population and breed.”
A resident of the area where the kittens were found reported hearing mountain lions “interact” in April. Mountain lion gestation is about 90 days.
They are the 13th litter discovered by researchers in the area.
Researchers have noted both triumphs and tragedies in the last 10 months in Southern California’s mountain lion community.
P-53, mom of P-50 and P-60
Earlier this month, a male mountain lion named P-55 was documented successfully crossing Highway 101, a rare event for the region’s big cats. He represented only the fourth case of a successful crossing since the NPS began its mountain lion study in 2002.
P-53, mom of P-50 and P-60
Earlier this month, a male mountain lion named P-55 was documented successfully crossing Highway 101, a rare event for the region’s big cats. He represented only the fourth case of a successful crossing since the NPS began its mountain lion study in 2002.
But last winter three lions were killed in just a few weeks on Highway 118 near Simi Valley: P-39 on Dec. 3, and then her kittens P-52 and P-51.
“There is always some good news and some bad news, and that’s a similar pattern we’ve seen in this study,” said National Park Service spokesman Zach Behrens. “This is a long-term study. We’re going to see life and death through out it. The goal over time is to preserve these species for future generations.”
proposed Wildlife Overpass at the Liberty Canyon/Chesbrough
exits on the 101 freeway in Los Angeles(red circle far right)
proposed Wildlife Overpass at the Liberty Canyon/Chesbrough
exits on the 101 freeway in Los Angeles(red circle far right)
Artist rendition of the what the 101 wildlife overpass
would look like
Ten to 15 mountain lions are studied at a time.
Wildlife advocates and activists have called for a wildlife corridor over Highway 101, and Liberty Canyon in Agoura Hills has been identified as the ideal spot. A proposal is currently being drawn by CalTrans.
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