WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — In a somber reminder of the challenges faced by Florida’s native wildlife, two of three recently assessed Florida panther kittens have fallen victim to nature’s harsh realities. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) had introduced the kittens, designated K522, K523, and K524, to the public before the tragic events unfolded.
FWC researchers had tracked the kittens’ mother using a GPS collar, leading them to her den site. The Panther Research Team then took the opportunity to assess the health of the three kittens while their mother was away on a hunt. During the evaluation, which typically occurs when panther kittens are between two to four weeks old, the kittens were sexed, weighed, dewormed, microchipped, and had biopsy samples taken for genetic analysis.
This assessment was part of the FWC’s ongoing efforts to monitor and preserve the Florida panther population, a species that faces significant survival challenges. Over the past 32 years, researchers have sampled a total of 524 kittens, offering invaluable insights into the species’ health and genetic diversity.
However, the survival rate for these young panthers remains alarmingly low, with only 32% making it through their first year. In a heartbreaking confirmation last week, the FWC reported that two of the three kittens, K522 and K523, were killed by another predator, leaving only K524 to carry on the legacy of its litter.
The loss of these young panthers highlights the ongoing struggle to protect and preserve this iconic species, which continues to face numerous threats in the wild.
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