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The Florida PantherFlorida's Most Endangered Animal
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The Florida Panther Not Like Most Panthers The Florida panther is one of the earth's most endangered animals. An estimated 160 to 180 animals remain in the wild. The only breeding population appears to be in South Florida. The Florida panther also is an official state co-mammal,
sharing this official distinction with the manatee. ![]() Even in shade, this panther isn't remotely black Ironically, a little over 200 ears ago, cougars were one of the most broadly distributed animals in the Western Hemisphere. They ranged from
the tip of South America to Canada and were found in
every region of the United States. More Important: Cattle or Panthers?
In Florida, as well as the rest of the country, the panther was aggressively hunted for decades because of the belief that cougars attacked livestock. Although generally not recognized, Florida has always been one of the nation's top cattle producers.
To encourage elimination of the panther, a $5 bounty was placed on the animals
in the late 1800s. Cattle again impacted the panther's well being in the 1930s and 40s when white-tailed deer were slaughtered by the thousands in an attempt to eliminate the tick that causes Texas cattle fever. That severely reduced the panther's
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