It would be impossible to squeeze everything about the renowned P-22 mountain lion onto a two-inch square postage stamp.
Nonetheless, three members of Congress asked the U.S. Postal Service on Friday, Feb. 3, to create a commemorative stamp honoring the passing of Los Angeles’ beloved cougar, known as the “Hollywood Cat.”
“P-22 was many things: our favorite celebrity neighbor, the occasional troublemaker, and a beloved mascot for our city,” Reps. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank; Julia Brownley, D-Los Angeles; and Ted Lieu, D-Torrance, wrote in a letter to the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee, appointed by the Postmaster General to choose subjects for recommendation as future stamp issues.
The three members of Congress wrote, “His exploits were followed not just by ordinary community members, but he had a devoted following online, and his comings and goings were even tracked by the local news. But most of all, he was a magnificent and wild creature, who reminded us all that we are part of a natural world so much greater than ourselves. Even in Los Angeles.”
Their request comes one day before the National Wildlife Federation hosts a “Celebration of Life for P-22” at the Greek Theatre on Saturday, from 12 noon to 2 p.m., where Schiff will speak. The venue is located in Griffith Park, where P-22 spent 10 years roaming for food — but never finding a mate.
The event is sold out. Livestreaming is available through news outlets and the savelacougars.org website. Also the Los Angeles Public Libraries will show the event on television screens inside 11 of its branches. To find the library locations visit lapl.org/p-22 and look under ‘Celebration of Life for Mountain Lion P-22.’
The intrepid cougar arrived in Griffith Park in 2012 at age 2 when he crossed the 405 and 101 freeways, the only Santa Monica Mountains cougar to successfully do so. He was part of the ongoing National Park Service study of local mountain lions and his movements were tracked via a radio collar.
Sometimes, the magnificent creature living in about 8 square miles ventured into urban spaces in Silver Lake, Los Feliz and the Hollywood Hills.
More recently, he went to the Trader Joe’s in Los Feliz. He also attacked a chihuahua who was being walked on a leash by his owner. His erratic behavior was most likely the result of injuries from getting hit by a car, internal bleeding and diseases he contracted, resulting in his euthanization on Dec. 17, 2022 by veterinarians working with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
“I loved P-22 and hold a deep respect for his intrepid spirit, charm, and just plain chutzpah. We may never see another mountain lion stroll down Sunset Boulevard or surprise customers outside the Los Feliz Trader Joe’s,” wrote Beth Pratt, NWF’s regional executive director, in a eulogy.
“But perhaps that doesn’t matter — what matters is P-22 showed us it’s possible. He changed us. He changed the way we look at L.A. He made us more human, made us connect more to that wild place in ourselves,” she continued.
But it was a photograph by Steve Winter of National Geographic magazine on P-22 strolling the hills in front of the Hollywood Sign that launched his star power. The three members of Congress want that photo to be used in the postage stamp, both as an iconic image of the animal and as a nod to the landmark Hollywood Sign’s 100th year anniversary.
Others have suggested the cat get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Meanwhile, the cat’s remains have been taken to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, but exactly what will be done with them remains unknown.
Local tribal leaders — who consider cougars to be sacred — have objected to the suggestion that the lion be placed on display at the museum, arguing instead that he be buried in Griffith Park.
City News Service contributed to this article.