A little big cat is safer. Known as "P-32," the young puma has left his nest in the Santa Monica Mountains. He is the first studied male puma to cross the 101 Freeway to flee the mountains, and is heading into a new home in Simi Hills.
The National Park Service researchers believe that p-32 darted across the 101 Freeway early on April 3, according to Los Angeles Times. He then crossed State Route 23 into the Simi Hills.
The young puma's sister, P-33, made the same trek out of the Santa Monica Mountains earlier this month, which is one reason P-32 left the mountains. Her brother will also have a better and safer life outside the terrain.
The two pumas were featured in mid-February playing and eating in a series of photos. At the time the siblings were 15 months old, but are now old enough to live independently of their mother.
Ranger Kate Kuykendall, local park ranger, says that this is "good news." She explains that being a young mountain lion living in the Santa Monica Mountains is "not easy."
P-32 is the first studied male Puma to cross the 101 Freeway, according to Science Times. Scientists believe that if more pumas can successfully make the transition, they can survive in linked habitats.
Seth Riley, local wildlife ecologist, says that the situation is a fairly "big deal." The Southern California pumas have taken a critical step.
Their reproduction health helps the female pumas secure an area in the mountains. However, young males face several threats, including passing vehicles and territorial fights with bigger adult males.
The first reported mountain lion to cross the 101 Freeway was P-12. He is the father of P-32 and P-33, and also their female sibling P-34.