The boy was rushed to a hospital after the incident at a wilderness park in Trabuco Canyon, a small community southeast of Los Angeles, according to the Orange County Fire Authority.
[Ads /]
A family of six was walking in the park when the mountain lion attacked and grabbed the child by the neck, officials said. The family's father threw a backpack at the animal and it let the boy go and instead, grabbed the bag and jumped into a tree.
Law enforcement responded and found the animal in the tree. Because of what was considered a threat to public safety, the animal was killed.
[Ads /]
The child was last listed in stable condition.
During the search, sheriff's deputies evacuated the park with assistance from a helicopter.