One other endangered panther in Florida was struck and killed by a automobile – the 62nd such loss of life since 2021.

An endangered Florida panther was struck and killed by a automobile, officers mentioned. That marks the eight cheetahs killed by a automobile within the state this 12 months — and the 62nd fatality since 2021, in accordance with statistics saved by state wildlife officers.

The stays of the 2-year-old male panther had been discovered Monday alongside Interstate 75 in Collier County, close to the western finish of Alligator Alley, officers mentioned.

All eight identified deaths of panthers this 12 months had been as a consequence of automobile collisions, in accordance with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee.

in accordance with statistics The committee gathered that seven of the eight panthers fatally struck this 12 months died in Collier County. Three of the cheetahs had been one 12 months previous or youthful.

last yearautomobiles hit and killed 27 panthers in Florida — the identical quantity Killed in 2021.

Florida panthers as soon as roamed your entire Southeast, however their habitat is now principally restricted to a small space of ​​Florida alongside the Gulf of Mexico.

Searching decimated their numbers, and so they had been one of many first species added to the US List of endangered species In 1973, in accordance with National Wildlife Federation. It’s the solely subspecies of mountain lion that may nonetheless be discovered within the jap United States

There are nonetheless as much as 230 Florida panthers within the wild.

The Nationwide Wildlife Fund says the small cheetah inhabitants is susceptible to low genetic variety, mercury contamination and illnesses equivalent to feline leukemia. Moreover, development causes habitat loss, and roads pose a hazard to cheetahs making an attempt to cross.

“This subspecies is so critically endangered that it’s susceptible to virtually each main risk,” says the NWF.