The mountain lion, named P22 by scientists, was discovered accidentally by a camera trap, which had been set up to monitor wildlife in Griffith Park in Hollywood.
Biologist Miguel Ordenana found a photo of the creature whilst checking one of the camera sites.
"I was kind of tired and had been in the sun a lot so I was like, ok let me just refreshed my eyesight - and yes it was still a mountain lion in front of my face".
Since the sighting, National Geographic wildlife photographer Steve Winter has spent a year waiting for the perfect shot of the animal. He finally captured the following breathtaking images of the cougar with the Hollywood sign and city of Los Angeles in the background.
© Steve Winter/ National Geographic
© Steve Winter/ National Geographic
What an awesome animal- too bad he's in an area with a bunch of feral humans on the loose.