GRIFFITH PARK—A permanent bronze statue titled “Earth to City, Rhapsody of the Wild King” is set to be installed in honor of the late mountain lion P-22, who lived in Griffith Park for over a decade. Adam Matano is sculpting the statue as part of the National Wildlife Federation’s SaveLACougars campaign. It will be funded entirely through a donation from Orange County philanthropist Joann Randall.
The memorial will be located at the Griffith Park Visitors Center on Crystal Springs Drive, where it will be open to the public. No installation or unveiling date has been announced yet.
The project honors P-22, who rose to fame after surviving a crossing of both the 101 and 405 freeways to reach Griffith Park. A National Geographic photo of him walking in front of the Hollywood sign later went viral, cementing his legacy as one of the country’s most famous wild cats.
His story prompted many Angelenos to reconsider how the city coexists with wildlife, sparking wider conversation about the need for protected corridors linking the region’s fragmented natural habitats.
In December 2022, P-22 began exhibiting unusual behavior, including attacking a leashed dog near the Hollywood Reservoir. He was subsequently captured by wildlife officials, who found injuries consistent with a vehicle strike, along with kidney disease and a parasitic skin infection. He was euthanized shortly after due to the severity of his condition.
By Milan Manesh