Florida Panther
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- For the NHL hockey team by this name, see Florida Panthers.
The Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi) is a critically endangered subspecies of Puma that lives in the low pinelands, palm forests and swamps of southern Florida in the United States, especially near the Big Cypress National Preserve [link]. It is the last subspecies of Puma living in the eastern United States. Currently, this panther occupies only 5% of its historic range. There are fewer than 80 breeding individuals.
Threats
There are currently efforts in Florida to try to save the remaining population of the state's native panthers. This is difficult as the panther requires large contiguous habitat -- each 2 to 3 animals requires 100 square miles of habitat [link]. As the minimum population deemed viable is 240 panthers, this would require 8,000 - 12,000 square miles of habitat. The Florida Panther may be recognized in its smaller size (compared to other Puma subspecies), a broader skull, and longer legs. As a result of inbreeding due to small population, this subspecies is beginning to exhibit a crook at the end of its tail and a whorls of fur on the back. The introduction of 8 panthers from Texas has apparently been successful in mitigating inbreeding problems [link].Southern Florida is a fast-developing part of the nation, and declining habitat threatens this species. The two highest causes of mortality for the Florida Panthers are automobile injuries and aggression between panthers for territory. The primary threats to panthers include habitat loss, habitat degradation, and habitat fragmentation. The development at Ave Maria, near Naples, is controversial for its location in prime panther habitat.
The Florida Panther has been at the center of a controversy over the science used to manage the species. There has been strong disagreement between scientists about the location and nature of critical habitat. Due to a Data Quality Act complaint [link], the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service admited some errors to the science it was using. Environmentalists contend that habitat development was permitted which shouldn't have been. In January 2006, the Fish and Wildlife Service released a new Draft Florida Panther Recovery Plan for public review.[link]
References
- Cat Specialist Group (1996). [Puma concolor ssp. coryi]. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this subspecies is critically endangered and the criteria used
External links
- [Florida Panther Net - the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's educational page]
- [Florida Panther - National Park Service website]
- [The Florida Panther Society, Inc.]
- [U.S. Fish and Wildlife Press Release on new Draft Recovery Plan]
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