Animal Discovery: The Panther is one of 30 cougar subspecies, the Florida panther is tawny brown on the back and pale gray underneath, with white flecks on the head, neck and shoulder. Panther Originally from western Texas and throughout the southeastern states; now only in Florida. Panther wight Males, up to 130 pounds; females, 70 pounds. Habitat Panther is cypress swamps, pine and hardwood hammock forests. FOOD; Mostly white-tailed deer, sometimes wild hog, rabbit, raccoon, armadillo and birds. BEHAVIOR: Solitary, territorial, often travel at night. Males have a home range of up to 400 square miles and females about 50-100 square miles.30-50 individuals. OFFSPRING: Reach sexual maturity at about 3 years. Mating season is December through February. Gestation lasts about 90 days and females bear 2-6 kittens. Young stay with mother for about two years. Females do not mate again until young
have \left.THREATS: Habitat loss because of human development, collision with vehicles, parasites, feline distemper, feline calicivirus (an upper respiratory infection), and other diseases. The biggest threat to their survival is human encroachment. Historical persecution reduced this wide-ranging, large carnivore to a small area of south Florida. This created a tiny isolated population that became inbred. The number of living Florida panthers is estimated to be between 80 and 100. PROTECTION: CITES Appendix I, Endangered Species Act. CONSERVATION: Reduced speeding zones, construction of panther underpasses, public education, captive breeding programs and research. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, an international treaty with more than 144 member countries. Appendix I listed species cannot be traded commercially. Appendix II listed species can be traded commercially only if it does not harm their survival.Source: Animal Discovery
