Habitat Protection For The Florida Panther

Project Animal(s) : Florida panther
Project Category : Mammals
Project Region : North America
Project Type : Conservation
Project URL : https://www.conservationfund.org/projects/habitat-protection-for-the-florida-panther
Project is timebound? : No

The Florida panther is the only cougar species found east of the Mississippi River. Although you’ll see the Florida panther on everything from license plates to the state hockey team’s jersey, this elusive cat was one of the first animals added to the U.S. Endangered Species List in 1967 and is one of the most endangered mammals in the world, with current population numbers hovering around 100 adult cats.

For the Florida panther to breed and hunt successfully in an increasingly developed landscape, corporations, private citizens and public agencies must work together to save Florida’s natural areas. That’s just what happened when, in 2011, we completed a multi-year effort to save nearly 650 acres of prime panther habitat. Located outside Naples near the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, this land is a top conservation priority of the Florida Panther Interagency Committee (made up by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, the National Park Serviceand the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). The project was also made possible because of the support of a local landowner. Together, we’ve given this big cat a little more room to roam at home.

Project Agency : The Conservation Fund

Project Agency Contact : https://www.conservationfund.org/

Project Researcher : Matthew Sexton

Project Researcher Contact : msexton@conservationfund.org