Protecting biodiversity is essential for animals to survive, especially endangered species. Biologists recently discovered that cougars in the Santa Monica Mountains are showing physical manifestations of extremely low genetic diversity.
The mountains in Southern California are home to an isolated population of less than 24 mountain lions. Young males were found with similar genetic deformities of L-shaped tales with one descended testicle. Their species is the most endangered mammal in North America.
For years, they've been killed by cars on the 101 freeway, which serves as barriers between different species and hindering their migration. In the Santa Monica Mountains, a clan of about 20 cougars has become isolated due to 15 freeways in the area.
Similar to global warming, mountain lions becoming extinct in the region 'is not a future threat-it's already here,' said the center's conservation director, Brendan Cummings. 'As California continues to encroach into wildlife habitat,' the mountain lions 'have become a test case as to whether we're capable of living in this large state with wild animals.'
Physical Distortion
Biologist Jeff Sikich from the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area shared that this outcome was something that experts 'hoped to never see.' His team has been aware of the area's low genetic diversity, but this was the first time that they've witnessed any physical distortion as a result of interbreeding.
State officials reported that there are only six isolated cougar clans left that are genetically diverse between Santa Cruz, California, and south at the United States-Mexico border. Biologists are hoping for the species to be listed under the Endangered Species Act. Experts estimate that there is a 25% chance of the Southern California mountain lions of becoming extinct within 50 years.
The first discovery was P-81, a one-and-a-half-year-old cougar that weighed 95 pounds, had a kinked tail, and one descended testicle. Days later, another cougar showed the same physical abnormality, most likely making the two siblings. The team also had camera footage between the 405 freeway and Hollywood freeway revealing a third mountain lion with an L-shaped tail as well.
Seth Riley, the center's wildlife branch chief, said that the discovery of 'the same type of kinked tails and cryptorchidism' was both interesting and worrisome. Cryptorchidism is a birth defect where at least one teste is absent from the scrotum.
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Conserving the Cougars
Conservationists are hoping for a wildlife overpass to be approved for different cougar species to safely cross between natural habitats. The bridge may help bring diversity in the gene pool and even increase their populations.
Fundraising for the campaign is still on-going and has support from the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, Annenberg Foundation, Boeing Co., and local conservation organizations. Construction is expected to being by late next year.
The tail deformity is 'a genetic cry for help, telling us we must make it easier for them to move around and find mates,' said biologist Tiffany Yap from the Center for Biological Diversity. 'More wildlife crossings are part of it, but we need to stop sprawl developments that cut these beautiful cats off from each other.'
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