How a Lonely Cougar in Los Angeles Inspired the World | Beth Pratt | TEDxYosemite

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Published 2016-02-22
Cities and nature can mix. Did you know a mountain lion lives in the middle of Los Angeles? Known as P-22 and made famous by National Geographic photographer Steve Winter’s now iconic images, this Hollywood cougar has put his celebrity to good use. As conservationist Beth Pratt-Bergstrom shows, his remarkable story challenges our traditional notions about nature and our relationships to wildlife, and has inspired a new type of urban environmental movement.

Beth Pratt, the California Director for the National Wildlife Federation, has worked in environmental leadership roles for over twenty years, and in two of the country’s largest national parks: Yosemite and Yellowstone. “I have the best job in the world,” she says, “I get to travel around California and spend time with condors, mountain lions, porpoises, pika, and foxes, and work with some amazing people who help wildlife thrive.” Beth serves on the board of the non-profits Outdoor Afro, Save the Frogs, and the education committee for Felidae Conservation Fund, and she has trained with Vice President Al Gore as a member of his Climate Reality Project Leadership Corps. Her work has been featured by The New Yorker, CNN, The Wall Street Journal, BBC World Service, LA Times, the Christian Science Monitor, Fast Company, NPR, and more. Her book, "When Mountain Lions are Neighbors: Wildlife in Today's California," will be published by Heyday books in 2016.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx
All Comments (16)
  • @GriffithParkTrailCamofficial
    Go Beth! She is someone who is literally fighting for the REAL protection of nature and wildlife spaces. I live and work with nature here in Los Angeles and I know personally how much Beth is doing and really proud. If you live on the West Coast you owe Beth a big thank you!
  • @SW-em5jr
    Thank you Beth for doing this TEDx Talk and for all the work that you have done for the environment. It is truly amazing to know that wildlife will and is finding a way to survive by creatively adapting to humans.The idea that we must find a way to coexist with wildlife within the cities and neighborhoods is important for us all to grasp, as well as to find the ways to “slow down” for wildlife in our daily lives.
  • @GriffWild
    Love this!!!! I am inspired to see Beth and others looking for solutions. Keeping my eye on this.
  • @denisemilfort4581
    I’m just about to hike Griffith, I told my friend who’s late meeting me here that I’m not interested being here at Dusk when P22 gets hungry and starts to hunt.
  • @kristeyh937
    Mountains lions used to breed in Griffith Park in the 70s. Thank you Beth! We used to have them where I now reside until officials shot them for target practice.
  • @kristeyh937
    Has the corridor been built? If not, when? Yesterday would be good. For the love of wildlife.
  • @katherinekelly6432
    If there are as many Coyotes in G Park as there are in Hidden Hills than he is well fed.
  • @TheGreatSteve
    I thought the speaker was the lonely cougar! FALSE ADVERTISING. I was fully expecting some Satc shiz.