Three dozen endangered Florida panthers have died this year, the most in nearly a decade, according to the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
This is the highest number of leopard deaths since 2016, when 42 leopards died.
passed beyond 2024 In the case of panther's death in May last yearAccording to the commission's data. were november and december particularly deadly months As for big cats, 10 of the 36 leopard deaths occurred this year. But it wasn't all bad luck and sadness for this species: A group of three young Florida panther cubs were confirmed alive In August at the Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest.
Only 120 to 230 adult leopards survive in Florida, according to Florida Department of Environmental ProtectionAccording to the National Wildlife Federation, the highly endangered species once lived throughout the Southeast, but their populations have been decimated primarily due to hunting. Now, big cats are mostly confined to one area of Florida, along the Gulf of Mexico, and remain vulnerable to low genetic diversity, disease, and habitat loss.
Another major threat to this species are cars and other vehicles. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, of the 36 cougars killed in 2024, 29 were killed by vehicles. there was a leopard hit by a trainAccording to the commission, the causes of death of four leopards were “unknown”, and only two cats were killed by poachers.
panther crossingAn organization dedicated to reducing car-related deaths of the species said at least 239 Florida panthers have died in vehicle collisions in the past decade — about the same number of adult panthers confirmed alive today. is more than.
Officials and activists have urged motorists to slow down and pay attention to their surroundings in South Florida counties where panthers are known to be active.
“We have a growing human population and infrastructure, roads, buildings, high traffic and high speeds… all of this is happening right in the middle of the last habitat occupied by the Florida panther,” Alice Bennett said. , Florida and Caribbean Director Center for Biological DiversityIn an interview with CBS News earlier this year“They're kind of cornered into this small area of southwest Florida, and that's where we see most of the street killings.”