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Challenges of Florida Panther Conservation
Presented by: Darrell Land,Florida Panther Team Leader
Panthers are Florida’s largest cat and adults range in
size from 60 to > 160 pounds
Former distribution of Pumasubspecies in North America Former and current range of FL panthers
Florida Panthers have been on the Endangered Species List since 1967
Most panthers are found south of Lake Okeechobee
No females have been confirmed north of Lake Okeechobee and the Caloosahatchee River since the 1970’s
Female locationsMale locationsDeaths N of Caloosahatchee River
UCFP123 shot 11/16/2008
Panther telemetry locations
Mortalities north of the Caloosahatchee River*
Panthers have been documented in 3 of 5 FWC regions plus in Georgia since 1973
Verified sightings submitted to website
Florida Panther Genetic Restoration began in 1995 with the release of 8 female puma captured in Texas.
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Panthe
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Panther Minimum Count and Roadkills 1985‐2012
Genetic Restoration1995
Roadkills
Current population estimate
100-160 adult panthers in southern Florida
2008
The goal is to achieve long-term viability of the Florida panther to a point where it can be reclassified from endangered to threatened, and then removed from the Federal List of endangered and threatened species.
Adult survivalKitten survivalLitter sizeBreeding agesSex ratioHabitat lossHeterozygosityLife expectancyCatastrophesPopulation sizeInbreeding Assess extinction
risk for panthers240
InputsPopulation Viability
Analyses
We use computer models to determine a target population size that ensures panthers can avoid future extinction
Recovery Criteria
Endangered to Threatened
Two populations of 240
Delisting
Three populations of 2402008
A viable population, for purposes of Florida panther recovery, has been defined as one in which there is a 95% probability of persistence for 100 years
50 or fewer panthersHeading towards extinction
> 240 panthers Stable population
50‐70 panthers•Decline over time
80‐100 panthers•Somewhat stable•Genetic problems
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Extinction Risk
PVA models’ average
populationSize
Current population100-160 adultsPopulation shows positive population growth
Potential panther habitat patches north of the
Caloosahatchee River
100 -160 panthers
2006Identifying Suitable Sites for Florida PantherReintroductionCINDY A. THATCHER, University of Tennessee, Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, Knoxville, TN 37996, USAFRANK T. VAN MANEN,1 United States Geological Survey, Southern Appalachian Research Branch, University of Tennessee, Department of Forestry,Wildlife and Fisheries, Knoxville, TN 37996, USAJOSEPH D. CLARK, Untied States Geological Survey, Southern Appalachian Research Branch, University of Tennessee, Department of Forestry, Wildlifeand Fisheries, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
Potential panther habitat
Well, a funny thing happenedon the road to recovery…
As panther numbers increased, so did social acceptance issues
More people and more panthers will lead to more opportunities for human/panther interactions.
Depredations on pets, hobby livestock
Depredations on commercial cow/calf ranching operations
Will panther presence impact my land use plans?
Some Emerging Social Acceptance Issues
Panthers are predators…
And people do get upset…
Aggressive body language postures
Pitch fork
Calling for reinforcementsLocal TV crew
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Depredations Encounters Incidents Threat
Confirmed Human‐Panther Interactions
Florida Panther Response PlanAn interagency plan for dealing with human‐panther interactions and conflicts to promote public safety while assuring the conservation of the panther.
Education and Outreach are critical components of the Florida Panther Response Plan
Second Annual Florida Panther Festival 2013
Over 1000 people visited the Festival each year
Investigate how and why different types of landowners respond to different panther habitat conservation incentives.
Provide insights into which incentives (financial incentives, regulatory relief and/or technical assistance) landowners prefer, and the potential costs of implementing these incentives.
A single, viable panther population needs millions of acres of quality habitat and this will be a combination of public and private
ownerships
Strategies for dealing with social issues will be critical for a successful panther population expansion or re-establishment
Current level of social acceptance of Florida panthers has evolved over the past 40 years
Local, State and Federal governmentPrivate landowners/Ranchers
DevelopersUrban and rural residents
Hunters/Outdoor enthusiastsConservation organizations
Florida panther recovery will require establishing new populations beyond the current range. We will be starting from
square one with respect to social acceptance!
• Maintain social acceptance• Large tracts of contiguous habitat• Economic incentives for protecting habitat• Effective strategies for offsetting livestock losses
Panther Conservation Model
