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Florida PantherThese beautifully elegant big cats are the official mammal of Florida and have been an endangered species since 1967. A subspecies of the mountain lion or puma, this wide-ranging predator is found only in south-central and south Florida. They are large, sleek, a light brown in color and solitary by nature. They grow to about 7 feet long (2.2m) and 4 feet high (1.2m), and weigh up to 150 pounds (70kg). Hunting by humans, habitat loss and automobiles led to a decrease in the population to as few as 50 animals and chronic inbreeding further impacted on their survival. Land has now been set aside to preserve panther habitat areas and Texas cougars have been released into the Florida wild to improve the gene pool. A recent population count indicated an improvement in numbers with estimates of now more than 80 animals. They are to be found primarily in South Florida in the Everglades and Big Cypress parks. The Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge is under the administration and management of the US Fish And Wildlife Service. |
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