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Photo from the Florida Panther Page
The Florida Panther In the
Seminole language,
The Florida Panther, which is the state mammal of Florida, may be the most endangered animal in the world. Their numbers are currently estimated to be only between 30 and 50 in the wild and with such a limited breeding pool, their fate may become as that of the African Cheetah.
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These are quite beautiful cats and their coloring, which is a golden tawny brown, is similar to the California Mountain Lion. They range in weight from 100-148 pounds for the male and60-100 pounds for the female, with respective lengths of 7 feet and 6 feet. Their ages have been averaged at between six and 12 years in recent field studies.
These big cats also have a big range of about 301 square km for the male and 104 square km for the female. While these ranges may overlap as much as 20 miles, the males and females do no live together. The panthers are a non migratory species.
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Their habitats are often a swamp-forest mixed area with beds being primarily made up of the abundant saw palmetto. They have been known to stay near wildfires for several days, waiting for what?The creatures who run from the flames? Their favorite food is the white tailed deer, followed by wild hogs, raccoons and other small mammals, birds, reptiles and insects.
The Panther has been a major part of the culture of the Indigenous people of Florida, being used in ceremonies and medicinal rituals. The Panther Clan, who are descendents of Chief Osceola, were among the first to honor this remarkable animal, whose survival now lies in the hands of those who have driven it to the brink of extinction.
Taxonomy - Species - Panther - Florida
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