Despite the Florida panther’s large size, it is more closely related to small cats like the lynx and even house cats, than to big cats like lions and tigers. Florida panthers once flourished throughout the Southeast, but decades of unchecked development pushed them into a fraction of their historic range. Panthers must navigate busy roadways and a patchwork of wild lands in order to survive. Collisions with motor vehicles are the leading cause of death for panthers at the hands of humans. Beyond these interactions, panthers also face persecution from their human neighbors who are afraid that they pose a risk to cattle and pets.

Your adoption supports our work with state and local officials to protect essential habitat, construct highway underpasses and maintain habitat connectivity, so panthers can move safely across the landscape. It also enables our on-the-ground coexistence efforts.