Berkeley Shrine Honors Slain Mountain Lion
There's an outpouring of sympathy for the mountain lion that was shot and killed by police in north Berkeley's Gourmet Ghetto last week.
The lion is the subject of a street corner memorial, near the scene of its death. There's a cascade of flowers and cards, hearts and incense, all memorializing the mountain lion, killed by police last week, not far from Chez Panisse and the original Peet's Coffee. There are notes criticizing the cops for taking the cougar's life, though a few mock the mourners.
One reads, "What would you say to the family of someone who became the lion's dinner? 'Gee, too bad, but we're all connected in the circle of life?' Time to get in touch with your common sense chakra."
Still, many agree with Val, a woman who was nearby the memorial. She says the police shouldn't have killed the mountain lion.
"I think it's awful," said Val. "I think there's other ways to deal with it."
But Helen Schneider, who lives on Walnut Street where the lion was killed, says police did the right thing, but she still loves the shrine to the slain animal.
"It's just very Berkeley," she said. "That's what people do here, that's why I love it."
