A friend sent me a link to an article on the Florida Panther, recently penned by Natalie Angier for the New York Times. According to Natalie, Floridians love their Panthers, to the degree that it was named as the official state animal in 1982. Florida residents may also visually show their support of the Florida Panther, with the purchase of a special Florida Panther license plate for their vehicles.
Much like other endangered species, human encroachment on the Florida Panther's habitat is the main threat to its survival. Although it is from the same genetic family as mountain lions, pumas, cougars, catamounts and panthers, the Florida Panther is actually a sub-species of the Puma (its scientific name is Puma concolor coryi), and it once roamed a habitat which extended throughout the "entire southeastern United States, including Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana," according to Friends of the Florida Panther Refuge. At the present time this subspecies only exists in southwestern Florida, a considerably smaller habitat.
The largest threat from humans contributing to annual deaths of the Florida Panther is vehicles. The second largest cause of death is intraspecific aggression. This is specifically related to the significant decrease in habitat. 2009 marked the second largest recorded death count (19).
If you love the big cats too, as I do, you owe it to yourself to look at the Friends of the Florida Panther Refuge web site. The FAQs page (linked above) is a fascinating read in itself. Did you know that Florida Panther kittens are spotted at birth? I didn't, but it makes sense because it helps camouflage them. I also didn't know that the Florida Panther cannot roar. Like house cats, it can purr; it can also "mew, chirp, whistle, hiss, growl, and emit a distinct scream know as the caterwaul."
Photo Credit: © iStockPhoto/Dennis Guyitt
Additional Must-Reads:
Defenders of Wildlife Heartbreak Highway
Florida PantherNet
National Wildlife Federation Florida Panther
Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge
Comments
I have been told there is no such animal as a “mountain lion,” that this is a common term people use when referring to cougars and other wild cats. Does anyone know what a “mountain lion” is/looks like?
It is my understanding that the names puma, cougar, mountain lion are interchangeable and they’re all the same cat. Franny’s article points out that the FL panther is actually a sub-species of the puma. Numerous people on the exoticcatz.com website have pumas for pets and say they can be tamed and make good pets, although I realize keeping a large, wild cat for a pet is controversial.