Uno — officially known as F312 — was part of the UC Davis California Mountain Lion Project
A beloved California mountain lion nicknamed “Uno” died this week after she was struck by a vehicle while trying to cross the same highway where one of her cubs was killed.
Uno — officially known as F312 — was part of the UC Davis California Mountain Lion Project and tracked using a GPS collar. She died from severe head and chest injuries despite “valiant efforts to save her life” by residents and animal welfare workers, the project announced on Instagram.
The cat was crossing Santiago Canyon Road in Orange County, which she had navigated successfully many times when struck. One of her cubs met the same fate on the roadway, while another died after being hit on Glenn Ranch Road about 9 miles away.
Uno earned her nickname from local photographers due to an eye injury that left one cloudy. She was frequently photographed and was a local celebrity due to her “seeming laissez-faire demeanor around people,” researchers said.