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Mountain lions to be protected in California

A mountain lion opens its mouth. It is a big cat with orange/beige fur and white markings on its face. Getty Images

Up in the mountains of California you might find yourself coming face to face with a big cat prowling in its natural habitat.

But the mountain lion is becoming more vulnerable due to a loss of its natural habitat.

That's why California have introduced a new law to help protect them which has been hailed as a "major milestone".

It means more than 1,400 mountain lions across the US state are now protected.

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A mountain lion looks out onto the city at night from a mountainGetty Images

Mountain lions living across the Bay Area all the way down to the Mexican border are most at risk of extinction from habitat loss.

Experts say mountain lions in certain areas of California are likely to become extinct without measures in place.

The new protections mean more thought needs to be taken with regards to building new developments in lion habitats and more precautions like wildlife crossings and road improvements.

Some people opposed the new measures, saying the lions pose a safety risk to people and livestock.

But Valerie Termini, acting director of the California department of fish and wildlife, said it was the right decision.

"The segment of the population we're talking about today is clearly at risk from distinct threats," she said.

WATCH: What happened when a mountain lion was on the loose in San Francisco (footage from AP)