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Endangered Koala Found Mauled To Death By Predator At LA Zoo

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A 14-year-old koala living at the Los Angeles Zoo has been mauled to death by a predator, officials said Thursday.

According to the zoo, the female koala named Killarney was found dead outside of her pen a week ago. Officials located a puff of fur on the ground near the exhibit. An hour later, the koala's remains were located 400 yards from where she was living.

Koala at LA Zoo

Officials believe the koala may have been mauled to death by P-22, an infamous 7-year-old, 130-pound mountain lion who has become the mascot of Griffith Park, CBS2's Jasmine Viel reported.

In a statement, zoo officials said while there was "no definite photo or video evidence" that P-22 was behind the koala's disappearance, the mountain lion was captured on surveillance footage on zoo grounds the night prior to the koala's death.

"As a precaution animal care staff has begun moving a majority of the animal collection into their inside barns and quarters at night. The koalas have been relocated indoors for the time being and will return to their outdoor habitat at a later date," according to an L.A. Zoo spokesperson.

There are now 10 remaining koalas in the zoo's collection, officials said.

"Regardless of what predator killed the koala, this tragedy just emphasizes the need to contemplate relocating P-22 to a safer, more remote wild area where he has adequate space to roam without the possibility of human interaction," City Councilman Mitch O'Farrell said in a written statement. "P-22 is maturing, will continue to wander and runs the risk of a fatal freeway crossing as he searches for a mate. As much as we love P-22 at Griffith Park, we know the park is not ultimately suitable for him. We should consider resettling him in the environment he needs."

It remains unclear when zoo officials will move the koalas back into their exhibit.

The investigation is ongoing.

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