LA Mountain Lion Inspires Creation of World's Largest Wildlife Overpass
Discover the captivating tale of P-22, the famed LA mountain lion whose legacy led to the world's largest wildlife overpass. Embrace the spirit of the wild! The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Overpass, a wildlife bridge spanning the 101 Freeway of LA, was inspired by a solitary mountain lion named P-22. The star of the story was a cougar named P22, who was forced to exist and thrive within an area far smaller than is typical, a mere eight map squares. His frequent rendezvous with locals over dinner routines won him a place in their hearts and photos, increasing his popularity. The bridge, designed meticulously, will incorporate sound walls and natural sound barriers to shield the wildlife from the invasive noise of the freeway and potent headlights. It is estimated that around half of the bridge’s $100 million was funded by private donations, with an influential contribution of $26 million from philanthropist WallisAnnenberg.Sadly, the mountain lion that inspired this monumental project passed away a few months after the groundbreaking ceremony for the bridge.
Yayınlanan : 2 yıl önce ile Melinda C. içinde Science
Straight from a Disney movie storybook, a solitary mountain lion, confined within the bounds of LA highways, muscled his way into fame unknowingly inspiring the creation of the largest wildlife overpass globally.
This is not a fanciful tale; it is a testament to reality.
The star of our story, a cougar named P-22, was forced to exist and thrive within an area far smaller than is typical, a mere eight map squares, according to Beth Pratt, the California Director of the National Wildlife Federation. Bear in mind, the usual domain of a male mountain lion spans across an impressive 150 miles.
P-22’s enigmatic presence was noticed amidst Hollywood’s crowd of celebrities, as he roved around the neighborhoods surrounding Los Angeles’ Griffith Park. People living around embraced the mountain lion’s company, embracing him as a neighborhood figure, rather than fearing him, Pratt said.
The cougar’s frequent rendezvous with locals over their dinner routines won him a place in their hearts and photos, escalating his popularity. This affection extended from ordinary individuals to renowned celebrities such as Alan Ruck, who noted his encounters with P-22 in his email exchanges with Pratt.
P-22’s fame precipitated an unprecedented wave of interest in the conceptualization of a wildlife overpass spanning the bustling six-lane 101 Freeway of LA, an initiative aimed at facilitating safer passage for mountain lions like P-22. However, raising funds for such a monumental project was challenging.
This is where Pratt, a woman more at ease in the wilderness than the luxury of Bel Air mansions, fought tooth and nail for financial contributions, with generous donations flooding in from celebrities.
Affection for P-22 extended into the community, reaching the hearts of the Watts residents in South Los Angeles, who admired P-22 as a symbol of social justice. By way of his own experience, P-22 united communities from Beverly Hills to Watts, significantly under the banner of wildlife appreciation.
When it raises its arches in two years, the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Overpass will bridge an everyday transit volume of close to 400,000 vehicles. The bridge, designed meticulously, will incorporate sound walls and natural sound barriers, such as tall trees and thick foliage, to shield the wildlife from the invasive noise of the freeway and potent headlights.
The wildlife bridge, a product of the combined efforts of the National Wildlife Federation and California’s transportation department, is a testament to the success of public-private partnership. It’s estimated that around half of the bridge’s $100 million was funded by private donations, with an influential contribution of $26 million from philanthropist Wallis Annenberg.
The concept of wildlife overpasses is not new. They first appeared in France in the 1950s and have since been adopted across Europe, particularly in the Netherlands. Australia and Canada are recent success stories. These established wildlife corridors highlight the effectiveness of such an initiative for a range of animals, from koalas to grizzly bears.
In the US alone, vehicle accidents claim the lives of around one to two million hefty animals every year. Pratt asserts that this figure is a gross underestimate since crashes commonly go unreported. Add smaller creatures to the mix, and the number skyrockets into the billions.
Ultimately, the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing aims to preserve and foster the local cougar habitat, split in two by the imposing freeway. By carrying a whole ecosystem on top of it, the crossing promises a safe passage for a variety of wildlife, ranging from mountain lions and bobcats to monarch butterflies and western fence lizards.
Sadly, the mountain lion that inspired this monumental project passed away a few months after the groundbreaking ceremony for the bridge. P-22, the “ultimate cougar celebrity influencer,” might no longer walk among us, but his life significantly ensured the future of his kin in the region, inspiring the creation of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing.
A grand salute to P-22, a cougar who left a legacy much bigger than himself, proving once again that even in the concrete jungle, the spirit of the wild prevails.
Konular: Wildlife