He’s animal royalty in the City of Angels; an ambassador for conservation and for the random beauty this megalopolis offers. But P-22 is also a poster boy for something sadder. The mountain lion is thought to be about 12, and nearing the end of his life. He’s an eternal bachelor, cut off from the rest of his species and a symbol of what’s left of LA’s once-incredible ecosystems that are just barely holding on.

Today, the story of the cougar who stole L.A.'s heart. Read the full transcript here.

Host: Gustavo Arellano

Guests: L.A. Times enterprise reporter Laura J. Nelson

More reading:

He’s terminally single and getting old. What’s next for P-22, L.A.’s favorite wild bachelor?

A week in the life of P‑22, the big cat who shares Griffith Park with millions of people

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