Over the Labor Day weekend, a 5-year-old boy in California state park fell victim to a mountain lion attack, resulting in his hospitalization.
On Sunday afternoon, a family from Woodland Hills was enjoying a picnic at Malibu State Creek Park in the Santa Monica mountains of Southern California, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). The incident took place in the Tapia Day Use area of the park, as reported by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, a 5-year-old boy was attacked by a mountain lion while playing near the family’s picnic table.
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According to officials, the lion was provoked by one or more adults who charged at it, and as a result, the lion released the boy. Fortunately, the boy sustained significant but non-life-threatening injuries from the incident.
The boy was transported by air to Northridge Hospital Medical Center and was discharged on Monday morning.
After the attack, onlookers saw the lion make its way up a tree close by, where it stayed until the arrival of California State Parks rangers.
After consulting with CDFW wildlife officers, the rangers concluded that the mountain lion posed a threat to public safety, leading to its euthanization by a ranger using a firearm.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) reached out to the victim and their family while they were at the hospital. Their purpose was to gather evidence samples from the bite and scratch wounds, as well as the victim’s clothing. These samples were later confirmed to be a DNA match by the CDFW’s Wildlife Forensic Lab in Sacramento.
California State Parks is currently conducting an investigation.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office initially stated that the child was 4 years old, but the CDFW clarified that the child was actually 5.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and State Parks officials express gratitude for the safety of the family and the successful recovery of the child. Fortunately, no other individuals were harmed in the incident, according to CDFW.
