A five-year-old boy was mauled by a mountain lion at California’s Malibu Creek State Park in the US. The incident occurred on Sunday, September 1, when the kid was playing with other children. The Woodland Hills family, consisting of at least six adults and a few children, was on a picnic in the Tapia Park area when the animal suddenly appeared.
According to Metro, the mountain lion clamped its jaws around the boy’s neck and dragged him away towards the woods. As per the report, approximately 40 people were present in the picnic area during the horrifying incident. As the boy screamed for help, his father bravely intervened, fighting the mountain lion with his bare hands to save his son.
The boy’s aunt, speaking to KTLA, described the mountain lion as massive and unafraid.
“It was huge. The mountain lion was not scared at all. Somebody screamed the baby’s name, and the dad started running. The father grabbed the mountain lion with his hands and he just fought and then the mountain lion let go,” he told KTLA.
The boy was eventually released by a mountain lion and then airlifted to Northridge Hospital Medical Center. Fortunately, his injuries, though severe, were deemed as non-life-threatening. Reports indicate he sustained significant cuts and scratches to his face and his eyes were also injured during the attack.
The mountain lion was found in the area after the attack, where it remained perched in a tree until State Parks rangers arrived. The ranger ultimately put down the mountain lion after it was determined to pose a threat to public safety, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
“The lion remained in the tree until State Parks rangers arrived. In consultation with CDFW wildlife officers, they deemed the mountain lion a threat to public safety and a ranger euthanized it via firearm,” the statement said.
DNA taken from the mountain lion matched samples taken from the boy’s wounds and clothing, verifying that the rangers put down the right animal. Following the incident, California State Parks has launched an investigation into the attack.
“CDFW and State Parks officials are thankful that the family is safe, and the child is recovering and no one else was injured,” the release added.
This wasn’t the first time a mountain lion attack occurred this year. Earlier, two brothers were mauled by a mountain lion in a remote forest area about 15 miles north of Placerville, a small city located between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe, as reported by USA Today.
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