One reason the Florida panther population is decreasing is the loss of habitat. Florida panthers were once found all over the Southeastern United States. They began to lose their habitat when white men first entered the United States. The panther became a symbol of fear, and they were often hunted. They were hunted to the point that they were one of the first animals put on the endangered species list in the late 19000's. With the combination of loss of habitat and heavy hunting, the Florida panthers numbers have dwindled to only southern Florida and 120- 80 panthers left.
One reason the loss of habitat was so devastating to the Florida panther was that the Florida panthers males require much open space with wildlife in order to survive. There is an average of 200 miles of open wildlife needed for only one FL panther.
A couple ways we can help save the Florida panthers is to stop heavy, rapid urbanization in areas were the Florida panther survives. We can also donate to organizations that help the panthers, too. We can make sure to go slow in areas that are known to hold panthers, as panthers die each year crossing roads with speeding traffic.
Anther problem is the lack of genetic diversity in the population. This was helped when in the 1990's, Texas panthers to breed with the Florida panther, but it is still a problem. While there is plenty of species diversity in the Florida panther's current habitat, biological diversity is a problem. While biological diversity is not a direct problem to the Florida panthers itself, if these panthers go extinct it could have devastating effects on the land. One outcome of the extinction of Florida panthers would be an increase in deer population and feral hog population.
Please help protect the Florida panthers!
