FLORIDA PANTHER

JON SEPCIC, TOM KUNZ, CHRISTIAN COLAFELLA

FLORIDA PANTHER FACTS

The Florida Panther is the most endangered cat in North America.

It belongs to the Puma family.
It’s scientific name is Puma Concolor Coryi.
As opposed to the rest of the Puma family, the Florida Panther has a
brownish red color and a thinner coat to match the warm climate.
The Florida Panther became endangered on March 11th, 1967.
There are roughly 100-160 Florida Panthers in the wild.
The Florida Panther resides in swamps and dense forests in Florida.
FLORIDA PANTHER FACTS (CONT.)
• Florida panthers primarily eat white-tailed deer, but they will also hunt
feral hog, rabbit, raccoon, armadillo, birds and other animals.
• Historically, panthers ranged across the southeastern United States in the
states of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and
parts of Tennessee and South Carolina.
• Now, the breeding population of Florida panthers is found only in the
southern tip of Florida.
• The Panthers mating season occurs throughout the year with a peak in
winter and spring.
• Florida Panthers are Polygamous, meaning they may mate with one or
more partners.
• Males will try and prevent other males from mating with females within
their range.
• The Florida Panther is Florida's national animal.
• There is a hockey team called "The Florida Panthers."
IMPORTANCE TO ECOSYSTEM

• The Florida Panther is the apex predator in its range, therefore keeping other species from
overpopulating.
• Predators like the Panther do not generally kill numbers of the healthy prey population, but rather
scope out the weak and fragile members and kill them.
• By doing this, it helps reduce disease, lowers the chance of passing on genetic disorders and also
recycles nutrients throughout the ecosystem.
• If this breed were to become completely extinct, it could put the whole cougar population at risk of
becoming extinct.
HUMAN BEHAVIORS THREATING
THE FLORIDA PANTHER
• Habitat Destruction- Habitat destruction is one of the greatest threats to
Florida Panther survival. In Southern Florida, housing and highway products
continue to diminish precious and much needed habitat.
• Roadkill- Collisions with motor vehicles are the leading human cause of
Panther deaths. A record 25 Panthers were killed by vehicles in 2014.
• Intolerance- Many Humans do not like living with such a large and threatening
predator. People fear that Panthers are dangerous to humans and livestock,
complicating public support for the restoration of Panther populations within
Florida.
• Genetic Diversity- Despite protections for the panther habitat, inbreeding
remains a serious concern. In order to save the population from imminent
extinction, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service launched a project to release 8
female panthers from Texas into southern Florida to breed with the panthers in
Florida. This project succeeded, leading to the growth of the population.
EFFECTS OF HUMAN
EXPANSION
• New communities in Southern Florida are a
threat to the Panther.
• Large areas are being cleared and are
shrinking the habitat size increasing
competition between the species.
• Due to the Panthers having a large roaming
area, limiting their habitat size threatens
their ability to hunt efficiently and care for
their young.
• Because of this, the Florida Panther now
only roams in southern Florida as oppose to
much of the southeastern states.
• Panthers are forced to migrate to human
populated areas where, unfortunately, they
are hit by cars.
RECOVERY PLAN

• We are requesting 350,000 dollars for our recovery plan.

• We are going to buy 20 acres of land in Southern Florida at the cost of $5,000 per acre, at a final cost of
$100,000.
• The other $250,000 will be used to build a sanctuary, to pay the workers at the sanctuary and to buy
supplies for the sanctuary.
• The purpose of the sanctuary is to help a panther if it is injured or harmed so we can rehabilitate it.
• This will take 6 months to build the sanctuary.