While the Florida panther faces many of the same threats that other endangered species face, these can be more severe due to the panthers’ low population density. Habitat fragmentation is increasing (both in areas where panthers currently reside and in areas where recovery programs hope to expand populations) because of urban and agricultural development. This will make it difficult to sustain panther populations as they require large areas to roam and hunt. Panthers are also threatened by deaths from humans. The main cause of panther deaths is collisions with cars on the highway. However, there have been incidents where conflicts with humans have led to the illegal shooting of panthers. Most importantly, panthers are facing large habitat loss due to climate change and rising sea levels in their current geographic location. If there to be any hope for the growth of panther populations, actions must be taken to reduce the impact of climate change and protect the geographic range of the panther.

 

The most important part of conservation is becoming more aware of the issues. There are many resources out there to help you learn more about the Florida panther and the threats it faces. In addition, there are also organizations helping to fund conservation efforts. The biggest program is the Florida Panther Program whose goal is to educate the public on living with panthers and helping them find out what they can do to help the panther. This program is funded by the Florida Panther Research and Management Trust Fund, which you can donate to through the purchase of a Florida panther license plate. The Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida also created the Florida Panther Fund to provide aid to injured or orphaned panthers, support conservation efforts, and deal with unplanned events that may occur to threaten the panther population. This fund can be donated to online via the Florida Panther Fund website. All links to these sites can be found in the Resources and References page.

 

With today’s technology, it is even more easy to help spread awareness towards issues and to promote conservation efforts. Social media and the internet are great tools for people to advocate for change on a large scale. This makes it so that the efforts to regrow the panther population are not isolated to Florida. As you become educated, you can use social media to spread your knowledge and get more people interested in conserving the Florida panther. One issue to share is the effect of climate change, and what we as individuals can do to limit those effects. You can use social media to advocate for the protection habitats for the panther so that land will be set aside for the growth and expansion of the panther population. In addition to reaching out on social media, you can also send letters or emails to members of national and local government regarding these issues. Although it may seem like you cannot do a lot, change starts with individual choices and your actions will add to the larger efforts to protect the panther.