P-22, Famous Griffith Park Mountain Lion, Seen In Hollywood Hills

HOLLYWOOD HILLS, CA — Resident mountain lion known as P-22 has reemerged in the Hollywood Hills. A homeowner spotted the burly feline wandering by their Beachwood Canyon home on their Ring security camera, and took the footage to the park rangers.

According to CBS, city park rangers checked the lion's GPS tracker and discovered P-22 was on the prowl once again. Officials said the lion typically stays within Griffith Park but occasionally ventures into nearby neighborhoods when he gets restless. Rangers also speculated he may have wandered farther than usual in search of a mate.

The lion has become something of a cultural phenomenon since migrating from the Santa Monica Mountains. National park officials said they believe P-22 is the only mountain lion living freely in a large city such as Los Angeles. The cougar even has its own Facebook and Instagram pages and has graced the cover of National Geographic.

P-22 was first discovered in 2012 after biologists from the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area were able to fit him with a GPS collar in Griffith Park. In 2015, P-22 was found hunkered down in a crawl space beneath a Los Feliz home.

In 2016, the celebrity lion was accused of mauling a koala to death at the Los Angeles Zoo. The incident prompted some officials at the time to consider relocating him before disaster struck.

"P-22 is maturing, will continue to wander and runs the risk of a fatal freeway crossing as he searches for a mate," Mitch O'Farrell said at the time in a written statement. "As much as we love P-22 at Griffith Park, we know the park is not ultimately suitable for him. We should consider resettling him in the environment he needs."

Others disagreed, however, and the mountain lion was allowed to remain.

"The incident at the Los Angeles Zoo is incredibly unfortunate; however, relocating P22 would not be in the best interest of protecting our wildlife species," Councilman David Ryu said in 2016. "Mountain lions are a part of the natural habitat of Griffith Park and the adjacent hillsides."

Currently, P-22 is believed to be 11 years old.