The Florida Panther is a unique subspecies of the Cougar that generally lives in the forests and swamps of southern Florida. In the 1970s there were only an estimated 20 Florida Panthers left in the wild. Recently, in the last few months, there has been an increase in births of the Panther in the north eastern wetlands area of Florida.
Over the last several months there have been sightings of a mature Panther from ground and air along with the species specific Panther growl being heard on regular occasions over the NE FL area. Scientists who specialize in the Cougar species say the Panther does not roar like their other, larger, cat siblings. However, witnesses say it sounds like a combination of a roar and a growl when the Panther in NE FL goes by.
There are also 3 adolescent Panthers in the immediate area that have been adopted to loving homes and are growing at an astounding rate. Young Panthers are born with spots and blue eyes. As they mature the spots fade and their eyes turn yellow. There are reports of scattered adolescent Panthers as far north as Canada and as far east as Australia! The growth stages of these new Panthers seems to vary widely.
As the Panther is the state animal of Florida, it would make sense that the population density seems to be at it highest at this location, for the time being. Interestingly enough, the increase in the Panther population can be directly tracked to a Panther adoption center called Sport Performance Aviation LLC. They have been successfully producing Panthers and are adopting them out to their new loving homes. They seem to be single handedly taking the Panther off of the endangered species list!
The adoption center is in full support mode, helping it’s adoptive parents in the task to growing and developing their Panther cubs into full fledged, fearless adults – and bringing this species back to its full capacity.
This adoption center is also setting the stage for their facility to bring the larger species of the Panther, called the Cougar, to happy homes and says they will start adopting out Cougars in the near future.
Although the Panther is a subspecies of the Cougar, it is smaller than the species commonly known as the Cougar. For those of you who desire a larger cat – the Cougar will be available for adoption soon, so keep checking back.
-TeamPanther
(all in good fun of course 😉
