PANTHER PAGE Click on the panther above to hear it growl. Created by Jonathan W. Florida Panther Information (Puma concolor coryi) The Florida Panther was first listed as an Endangered species in 1973, however they have been a Protected species since 1953. Only 30 to 70 wild (free) panthers still remain in Florida, that makes this one of the rarest and most endangered mammals in the world. Throughout the state of Florida, there are several panther hot-spots, primarily southwest Florida: the Everglades, cypress swamps and wooded unpopulated areas. Poaching has always been an area of concern for the Florida Panther, whereas mercury poisoning is a new threat to their existence. The tawny Florida Panther is a subspecies of cougar that has adapted to the subtropical environment of Florida. Florida Panthers are usually found in pinelands, hardwood hammocks, and mixed swamp forests.
Adult males may range over an area of 200 square miles,
while females range over a 70 to 80 square mile area. By far the
greatest threat to the Florida Panther is loss of habitat.The swamps and pinelands panthers also provide us
with clean air and water, as well as thousands of species of birds,
mammals, reptiles and plants.The shape of the panther's skull is characterized by an exaggerated rise of the nasal arch. Paws are smaller and legs slightly longer than its cousin the bobcat. It has shorter hair, a crooked tail, and a whorl of hair in the middle of its back.
The most endangered of all Florida's symbols is its State animal, the florida panther which was chosen in 1982 by students across the state. The Florida Panther is a large animal [six feet or longer], long tailed, pale brown cat.
Habitat is lost because of human development and population growth, collision with vehicles, parasites, and other diseases. They reach sexual maturity at 3 years the least. Mating season starts at December
to February. The forming of a baby takes about 90 days.In 1982 children picked the Florida Panther. The panther is the most endangered animal in Florida .Male panthers can grow up to be about 7 feet and weight about 100-160 pounds. Females can grow up to be about 6 feet long and 60-100 pounds. They live in mostly Southern Florida. The state animal happens to be the Florida Panther.
The scientific name for Florida Panther is( Felis councilor coryi). The Florida Panther lives in the same habitat as the White Tailed Deer.
Poaching has always been an area of concern for the Florida Panther, whereas mercury poisoning is a new threat to their existence. But the main reasons why this species faces possible extinction are habitat loss and habitat fragmentation. Deaths are nw commonly caused by automobiles as they move between small isolated fragments of land. Also, inbreeding as a result of habitat fragmentation has seriously weakened this subspecies. This is why captive breeding is thought by some to be the only solution for the Florida Panther.Captive breeding is a difficult and often controversial subject. However, the more time taken to talk: Endangered species drop dangerously low in population putting them at risk for 1)inbreeding 2)unbalancing sex ratios 3) shifts in habitat quality and 4) new viruses. All these factors, individually and combined, can extinguish an Endangered population before protective lawas can even be agreed upon, let alone contracted, signed, and put into action.
During the past several years experimental introduction of the northern relative, the Texas Cougar has occured. The first attempts were not successful. Recently, more were released into the Big Cypress Preserve, home to a number of Florida Panthers. To date, the success of this project is not known. Needless to say, this will seriously dilute what is left of the Florida Panther's bloodline. But at the same time, it may be the only way to help keep wild panthers free and alive in Florida.
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Panther Web Sites
