On November 22, a Florida panther was struck by a vehicle and killed, making it the 30th panther kill of the year in the state and marking a grim milestone: fewer to die this year than in 2023. The Florida Panthers' numbers have more than doubled.
This is the highest number of deaths among critically endangered species since 2018, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission,
Most of the leopards have died after being hit by vehicles, of which five leopards died in the last month. A leopard was killed earlier this year after being hit by a trainThe most recent panther death occurred on November 22, when a 3-year-old panther was struck by a car on SR-29 southbound. According to Florida officials, the collision occurred about two miles south of a local gun range.
Tim Donovan/FWC
At least 239 Florida panthers have died in vehicle collisions over the past 10 years, according to panther crossingAn organization dedicated to reducing animal deaths caused by cars. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission previously issued a statement encouraging motorists to slow down in areas of several South Florida counties where panthers are known to be active.
There are only between 120 and 230 Florida panthers left in the wild, according to Florida Department of Environmental Protectionthere were three newborn cubs seen in the sunshine state earlier this year. These animals were once common in the Southeast, but now live mostly on the Gulf Coast of Florida, CBS News first reported,
Leopard populations were mostly destroyed by hunting, According to the National Wildlife Federationand remains vulnerable to low genetic diversity, diseases, and habitat loss. According to the NWF, “It is so critically endangered that it is vulnerable to almost every major threat.”