Record Number of Endangered Florida Panthers Killed This Year
Record Number of Endangered Florida Panthers Killed This Year
By John R. Platt | Takepart.com
December 1, 2015 2:08 PM
It’s shaping up to be a pretty terrible year for Florida’s critically endangered panthers. At least 36 of the big cats have died so far this year, two more than died in all of 2014. The entire adult population for the species is estimated at around 180 cats.
The record number of panther deaths is “tragic, but it’s not a surprise,” said Nancy Payton, southwest field representative for the Florida Wildlife Federation, who has been working on panther issues for 20 years. “We have a growing human population with more people and more cars, particularly in southwest Florida where most of the highway deaths are happening.”
Indeed, 25 of the deaths were caused by vehicles that struck the panthers while the cats were trying to cross roads. One panther was shot, while a kitten died of starvation after its mother was killed. The causes of several other deaths are unknown because the bodies were not discovered in time to accurately assess the reasons for their mortality.
In addition, four panthers were killed by other panthers. Male panthers jealously—and fatally—guard their territories from other males of their species.
More:
http://news.yahoo.com/record-number-endangered-florida-panthers-killed-190846587.html