This family of Florida panthers looks to be doing a-okay, and it’s certainly a sight to see… because capturing the elusive big cat species on camera in the Sunshine State is always a rare feat.
Florida’s famous big cat is categorized in the “critically endangered” level, meaning that the species’ population decline is greater than 80 to 90 percent. With their total numbers dwindling, Florida panthers are being seen less and less out in the wild.
With the majority of the species mainly living along the Gulf Coast of Florida now, experts estimate that there are only about 200 (or less) Florida panthers left in the wild.
Some ranges go as low as 130, while others creep up to the 230 mark. Though that might seem to be drastically low, it is believed that they were down to only 20 in the 1970’s. And in case it wasn’t clear already, based upon those population numbers, and their critically endangered categorization, they are protected by the Endangered Species Act.
The animals tend to be very territorial, and incredibly reclusive. That mixed with the limited number of Florida panthers out in the wild makes any sighting of the big cat a big deal. So it makes sense as to why this footage of a Florida panther mother walking around with her three kittens is getting a lot of attention.
The Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI), which is the research division of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, was excited to share this video that was recorded through a trail camera at the Babcock Ranch Preserve. It’s a little northeast of Fort Meyers, and it’s an area where, historically, there have been a number of Florida panther sightings.
This one is extra special because it helps to prove that the Florida panther population could be moving in the right direction. The first clip that is shown – from March – features a mother Florida panther walking around with three, very small kittens that still have their spotted coats. That alone is remarkable footage, but then the video jumps to a couple of months later.
It appears that in July, the family of Florida panthers was still hanging together, and doing well. The spots that used to litter the coats of the young ones are no more, and more importantly, the group of Florida panthers look to be healthy and thriving… which is great news for the endangered population of big cats.
Here’s what the FWC Research team had to say about the video:
“A Florida panther and her three kittens were documented at Babcock Ranch Preserve in March. The female and a kitten were resighted in July. Using trail cameras, FWC biologists have monitored panthers on public and private lands north of the Caloosahatchee River for over a decade.
While adult and subadult male panthers have been consistently documented in central Florida, recent observations of female panthers with kittens demonstrate the population’s ability to expand the breeding range north of the river.
The natural expansion of panthers into former range plays a critical role in improving prospects for population recovery in Florida.”
