A 5-year-old boy was attacked by a mountain lion in Southern California over the weekend and was hospitalized with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
The big cat was then euthanized by California state rangers, officials said Tuesday.
The mountain lion attack happened in Malibu Creek State Park west of Los Angeles, according to a statement from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
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The boy was part of a group of friends and family from Woodland Hills who were out picnicking.
“One or more adults charged the lion, which released the juvenile,” the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said in a statement. “Multiple witnesses witnessed the attack and observed the mountain lion climbing a nearby tree.”
The mountain lion had climbed a nearby tree, was deemed a threat to public safety and was euthanized by rangers with a gun. (Wally Scalisi/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The boy suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was taken by helicopter to nearby Northridge Hospital, where he was released early Monday morning, according to the statement.
Authorities said the mountain lion was euthanized with a gun while still in the same tree because rangers considered it a threat to the public, and big cats rarely attack humans.
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There have been only about 20 documented mountain lion attacks in California, three of which have been fatal, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said earlier this year.
Malibu Creek State Park near Calabasas, California (AP Photo/John Antczak)
Earlier this year, one man in Northern California was killed and another severely injured when a mountain lion stalked and attacked two brothers. The brothers first tried to scare the animal away before it could attack.
“CDFW and state park officials are grateful that the family is safe, the child has recovered and that no one else was injured,” the statement concluded.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
