Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network: Environmental leader to discuss P-22 and world’s largest wildlife crossing construction in Los Angeles

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The iconic cougar known as P-22 changed the world and ensured a future for mountain lions in the Santa Monica Mountains.

"P-22 was the historic mountain lion that lived in Griffith Park and he traveled pretty far and originally crossed the 101 to get to Griffith Park ... his inspiration led to the construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing currently under construction in Southern California," said development coordinator Caitlin Swedroe of the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network.

Anyone driving the 101 goes under the construction for the crossing in Agoura Hills.

That project will be among the prime topics at the upcoming Wild Talks lecture in Santa Barbara.

"We are doing a Wild Talk with Beth Pratt, and she is going to be talking about the life and legacy of P-22 and the building of the Wildlife Crossing in Los Angeles, said Swedroe.

Environmental leader Beth Pratt of the National Wildlife Federation will discuss the project intended to improve a wildlife corridor, preserve biodiversity, and save local mountain lions from extinction.

"I was very excited to hear about it ... it’s really important to be able to help animals cross over the road safely ... we want the animals to be able to be living with humans together in harmony … we’re living in the area that the animals also live in, so we want to be able to take care of our neighbors," said training and recruitment coordinator Naomi Tripp of the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network.

Organizers hope this lecture will help people learn more about P-22 and wildlife crossings.

"And I hope that this is going to lead way to more wildlife crossings … it’s very important that our animals can cross the street," said Swedroe.

This groundbreaking crossing will be the world’s largest, the first of its kind in California, and a global model for urban wildlife conservation.

P-22 died on December 17, 2022.

The Wild Talks lecture featuring Beth Pratt is on July 31 at 6:00 p.m.

The lecture will be held at the new Vic Theater located at 33 West Victoria Street in Santa Barbara.

For more information, log onto: https://www.sbwcn.org/.