Tag: The National Park Service At Griffith Park

SANTA MONICA—On May 18, biologists found three baby mountain lions in the Simi Hills of the Santa Monica Mountain range. According to the National Park Service (NPS), the pups are believed to be the offspring of a 5-6-year-old female mountain lion they are tracking named, P-77. She was captured recently in a remote area and recently had a litter.

The father of the kittens is not on the NPS radar. Researchers have indicated that he probably came over from a nearby mountain range during mating season.

“The NPS has been studying how mountain lions survive in increasingly fragmented and urbanized landscapes since 2002. Since then, researchers have monitored more than 100 mountain lions in and around the Santa Monica Mountains north of Los Angeles,” states the National Park Service website. 

The names of the new kits will be: P-113, P-114, and P-115. They too will be captured by NPS to fit with tracking devices.

Regarding the mortality of mountain lions, the NPS reported that as of December 2021, 28 out of 29 mountain lions have tested positive for an anticoagulant rodenticide (rat poison).

It may not be direct poisoning, but secondhand poisoning to kill other rodents. They eat a diet of ground squirrels and other rodents that got poisoned and the mountain lions consume them.

The other cause of death noted by NPS has been from traffic. Despite the wildlife bridges created to protect the mountain lions, the NPS reported that as of 2022, 32 mountain lions (collared and uncollared) have been hit by cars on major roadways.

P-22 was the most famous mountain lion in the Santa Monica Mountains. He roamed Griffith Park and was the first to grace the front page of a newspaper. He was 12 years old at the time of his death. He was captured after attacking a family dog being walked on a leash. Researchers were concerned about his health due to a noted change in behavior.

According to NPS, when the puma was examined, it was discovered that he had multiple injuries, some to the head, indicating that he may have been hit by a car. P-22 was euthanized. Four local tribes gave P-22, their beloved puma, a proper burial.

The only known mountain lion who lived longer than P-22 was P-1, the father of P-22, who lived 15 years. The birth of P-113, P-114, and P-115 helps the endangered puma population in the Santa Monica Mountains.

LOS FELIZ—On Friday, December 16, Zohra Fahim, the President and founder of the Los Angeles Alliance for Animals confirmed their findings of animal abuse at the Pony Rides in Griffith Park, which resulted in the death of four ponies.

Stephen Weeks, the owner of the pony ride attracted has reported that the animals did not die of abuse, but of illness, and old age.

Week’s defended himself and the care of the animals.  He told Inside Edition that,

“The last thing I want to do is when I have a sick pony, I don’t want to call the City of LA, I want to call my vet out here 24 hours at night if necessary. According to reports, Weeks is currently in the process of rehoming the ponies.

Canyon News spoke to Fahim who reported she had first-hand knowledge of the abuse and the deaths of the ponies. and spoke of algae in their drinking water. 

Fahim provided video footage of the ponies in extreme temperatures, kicking up dust on carriage rides, and giving little children rides on a turnstile they were chained to. The footage is posted on Fahim’s personal Facebook page.

Fahim provided pictures of the ponies the Alliance for Animals had been fighting to protect. 

The following is a list of what LAAA has documented of geriatric ponies working in hot temperatures over the Summer.

On August 7th geriatric ponies worked at 100 F (rides were not shut down)

On August 7th geriatric ponies worked later in the day at 97 F (rides were not shut down)

On August 12th geriatric ponies working at 93 F (rides were not slowed down)

On August 13 the geriatric ponies worked in 97 F (rides were not shut down)

On August 17th geriatric ponies worked at 91 F (rides were not slowed down)

On August 31st geriatric ponies worked in 96 F (rides were not shut down)

On September 1st geriatric ponies worked in 100 F (rides were not shut down)

On September 2nd geriatric ponies worked in 97 F (rides were not shut down)

On September 25th geriatric ponies worked in 90 F (rides were not slowed down)

On September 27th geriatric ponies worked in 98 F (rides were not shut down)

On September 28th geriatric ponies worked in 95 F (rides were not shut down)

A recent report from the City of Los Angeles veterinarian mentioned that 4 elderly ponies died this year, two in March, one in April, and one in August.

 

 

Canyon News reached out to the number on the Griffith Park website for the Pony Ride attraction, but the voicemail was full.  A statement could not be obtained by the National Park Service in time for print.

By Sharon