Florida Panther Recovery Program

Saving Wildlife
Collaborative Programs
Florida Panther

Florida Panther Recovery Program

with Frank Ridgley DVM, Zoo/Wildlife Veterinarian for Zoo Miami's Conservation & Research Department

The Florida Panther is a subspecies of the cougar whose last remaining population only exists in South Florida in less than 5% of its former range. Through historical bounties, habitat destruction, habitat fragmentation, genetic bottle-necking, and road collisions, Florida Panthers are estimated to only have a total population of 120-230 individuals left. This is actually a recovered number for the species that was once believed to be down to a population in the 20s a couple of decades ago. To remain viable, the current population would need to at least double in size. A major problem with this fact is that little suitable contiguous habitat remains, female panthers are slow to disperse, habitat destruction and roadway mortality continues, and male panthers aggressively maintain territories that are around 200 square miles.