For other countries, it is unusual to see a dangerous animal strolling around the city, but in Granada Hills, a prowling mountain lion -- causing campus lock-down -- was chased and tranquilized by authorities.
According to school police the mountain lion luring around John F. Kennedy High School was first seen by the cafeteria employees. Children's who left early said they knew that the animal had been lingering in the campus but they did not actually see it.
The incident was reported at about 10 to 11 a.m. and the response team from the Los Angeles Police Department, Fish and Wildlife officials and animal control promptly went to the site where the mountain lion was seen.
The 4-year-old fierce cat, which is estimated to weigh about 90 pounds (41 kilograms), was cornered in the neighborhood, southwest of Los Angeles Unified campus. It ran through the fences of homeowners Dora and Armando Villanueva at 16400 block, Donmetz Street.
The couple believed that they were in danger due to the live mountain lion in their front yard.
Dora Villanueva said that his husband just closed the door due to the wind blowing and suddenly they saw the mountain lion.
"It looked at me through the window. I thought it was going to break the window and come in. I was so scared." Mrs. Villanueva added.
The wildlife officials then had the chance of shooting the wild cat with tranquilizer darts. Lieutenant J.C. Healy from California Department Fish and Wildlife shoot the cat at the back.
Healy and his team needed to give the mountain lion additional shots of tranquilizer as it struggle to move even after the first darting. This helped the animal to completely pass out and be safe for the rescuers to place it in the vehicle.
"He was a tough cat," Healy said.
The mountain lion was placed on a pickup truck and transported into the wild.
"He's on his way back to the Santa Susana Mountains, in what we call suitable habitat," said Andrew Hughan, state Fish and Wildlife spokesman
According to officials, the cat is thin and might be scavenging for food the reason it went to the city.
This happening is not that unusual said Hughan.
"In the state, it happens every day. But it's pretty unusual for it to be right in the middle of day in Los Angeles near a school," Hughan added.
Photo: Eric Kilby | Flickr
