A $5,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for killing a mountain lion in the Santa Monica Mountains last month.

The death of the male lion, P-15, was discovered September 11 when a hiker came upon the lion's body, according to Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area spokeswoman Lauren Newman.

The death is thought to have occurred in late August, when the lion's radio collar stopped transmitting. It came about the same time that another male mountain lion, P-18, was killed when struck by a vehicle while trying to cross Interstate 405.

NRA and state of California Department of Fish and Game officials are particularly concerned about the latest loss because there are few male mountain lions thought to be left in Southern California's mountains.

The California Department of Fish and Game’s CAL-TIP line is offering a $2,500 reward and the Humane Society of the United States and the Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust is matching that amount.

Mountain lions are designated as a “specially protected mammal” in California, and it is illegal to hunt or trap them.

DFG and the National Park Service are seeking information related to the lion death and the parties responsible. Anyone with any information regarding this case should call the DFG Cal-Tip hotline at 1-888-334-2258.