A California police officer shot a mountain lion and he died after surgery.
The young male, estimated to be around one year old, was seen on the front porch at a Hollister house, 100 miles south from San Francisco, on Friday morning.
The animal was calmed by officials from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
According to a spokesperson, the original goal was to restore the mountain lions to their natural habitat.
He said, “We didn’t consider the mountainlion to be an imminent public safety risk.” It has not acted aggressively.”
The lion fled from a bush toward a police officer. Their two colleagues were able to shoot it.
Hollister Police Department stated that they could not put the life of an animal above human life. That is why officers fired their guns at the scene.
The lion, weighing 34kg and 75 lb, jumped over a fence to reach a nearby garden. It was calmed down again and then taken to Oakland Zoo’s veterinarians.
The animal died despite emergency surgery.
Alex Herman, vice-president of veterinary services at zoo stated that the lion was beautiful and in good health.
“Probably just a young man looking for turf, as they do at that age.”