In Malibu, a mountain lion attacked an 11-year-old girl near her home

• A mountain lion attacked a girl while she was near a playground.
• The girl's mother heard screams and ran to help.
• The mountain lion was found and euthanized by wildlife protection officers.

Malibu, California — A mountain lion attacked an 11-year-old girl near her family home in Malibu, California, and her parents, after which they called for help, authorities reported on Monday.

The girl was near a playground in the area on Sunday evening when the mountain lion attacked her from behind, biting her on the arm and lower part of her back, according to Peter Tira, a representative of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Emergency responders provided medical aid to the girl, and her injuries were described as non-life-threatening, Tira said.

During the attack, the girl's mother heard her screams and ran to help, along with one of her brothers or sisters. "At that point, the mountain lion began to retreat from the mother and child," Tira told the Los Angeles Times.

Another family member had an electric shock collar, and the sound of the collar allowed them to track the mountain lion.

Later, wildlife protection officers found the mountain lion in the area and euthanized it. DNA testing will confirm whether this is the same mountain lion that attacked the girl.

Mountain lion attacks on humans are rare. Since 1986, there have been 27 confirmed attacks on humans, most of which did not result in serious injuries, according to data from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The last fatal attack occurred in February 2024, when a mountain lion killed a 21-year-old man near George Town in Northern California.

Last August, a mountain lion attacked a 5-year-old boy, who was playing near his family's picnic table in Malibu Creek State Park. The boy suffered injuries that did not threaten his life.

Tags: USA